Deadly Nightshade

Anna Willis lived in a fancy apartment on the outskirts of town. She didn't know much about her father. He had died before Anna was born. Anna earned degrees in both economics and psychiatry from New York University. She had never worn make-up. Long, dark hair, perfect teeth, and a soft, even naughty smile. A stunning woman who, in spite of her prudence, always drew attention just by being there. Men, whether young or not so young, were always centered around her. She ravaged them with his mind's eye and crushed them with her dark eyes to learn more about each of them. And she was very successful. Surprise at first. The satisfaction and refinement. She has always enjoyed particular mind tricks. She walked to the terrace of the confectionary or the terrace where people drank beer, looked at gestures, and watched faces, feet, and hands move. She then made connections between these motions and the choices they made later on and realized some astounding things. Continually more. More and more unexpectedly, she was aware of her uniqueness from others. She already knew her own secret. Which he carefully guarded and treasured. Anna had had a few flings. Just that, despite the fact that she had wanted so much more from every start. More had always been what she had desired. The most beneficial and amazing things were learned in the hospital where she worked. The bank where she now worked was insignificant. Her tasks were monotonous and didn't need much thought. Everything in this city and location had shrunk too much for her. Anna recently lost her mother as well to a cruel illness. She made the decision to go. All the way to the train station, she sobbed. Memories flooded back into her through the tears. Among couples of lovers. A park bench and the first kiss. First love, first affair, first breakup. Anna hunted love like a wild animal, caught her, tamed her, studied her in every detail, then set her free. Maybe she got bored too quickly with anything she understood. Maybe she's always been passionate about what she doesn't understand. The station where no one had driven her to leave, got smaller and smaller until she disappeared. Anna didn't believe there had to be a fixed place to be born, just like there is no specific age to be born. She will be born once more at the end of this road. A road like a disordered pulse of chance, a madness of flight without wings and no return. Around midnight, Anna arrived in New York. She studied there. Here she had loved and been loved. Here the world had collapsed on her. Is life strange? Sure you do. Otherwise, why would he have come back here? She didn't know the answer. Anna knew him too well. She walked around looking for a motel where he could eat, shower, and rest until the next day. A torrential downpour began that soon soaked her to the skin. The night had become hazy and forbidding. Anna continued walking, concentrating on not tripping over anything. It seemed that the other sidewalk was brighter. She looked left and right, preparing to cross to the other side. On the left side, she saw a man bent under an umbrella, hurrying to cross. A car coming out of the darkness hit him, throwing him back onto the sidewalk. The car braked and stopped a few feet away from Anna. She looked at the license plate number, backed up, and leaned against the wall of a house. After a few moments, the car's lights went out and it sped off. She turned to the stricken man. He was motionless, face down in the water. Anna pulled him out of the way and propped him up against a wall. She knelt down and examined it carefully. Anna saw a blow to his left leg. It was not fractured. A blow to the head. He had been very lucky. "You hear me?" Anna asked him, trying to be calm. "What happened?" "You were hit by a car. I don't know if you should go to the hospital." "I live nearby. Please help me go home. I'll see if I need medical treatment there" the man said. He leaned on Anna until they reached his apartment. The head wound was ugly but not serious. He circled the room a few times. The leg was just dislocated. He walked over to Anna and held out his hand. "Thomas Hill" introduced himself, smiling. "Anna Willis is delighted." "Anna, if you want, you can change in the bathroom." "I'm sorry, I have to get to a meeting", Anna lies. "Are you really leaving? Don't you want to stay?" asked her awkwardly. "Maybe we'll meet again on another occasion and we'll talk more," Anna told him bluntly. "I remain in your debt," replied Thomas and handed her a business card. "Did you manage to see the car registration number?" "No," she said in a firm voice. "I'm thinking of starting an investigation, to see who was driving that car and why he fled the scene of the accident." "I wouldn't advise you to do that." "Why?" "Because you got into that car, more than he hit you. That's why you're not hurt more seriously. I saw exactly how it happened." "I understand. Thank you very much once again. I would be happy to be of service to you sometime." The rain had stopped in the meantime. Anna walked a few blocks until she found a motel. She ate something, took a shower, and fell asleep while thinking about what she was going to do the next day. She had to find a job.