Vivian stood at the window, her hands in her pockets, gazing into the infinite expanse of roads and buildings ahead. Her messy, loose hair waved gently in the slight breeze from the rotating ceiling fan.


    "Vain..." The voice was small and weak. Vivian thought it was her mind playing tricks on her. Then she heard it again, louder this time. "Vain..."


    She spun around and saw Laura awake after a three-day hospital stay.


    "Laura... my dear, are you okay?" Vivian rushed to her side. Laura tried to sit up, her neck stabilized in a soft cervical collar. She clutched her neck, a small cry of pain escaping her lips.


    "Lie down, lie down! What do you need? I''ll get it for you."


    Laura tried to laugh, but her neck hurt too much. Vivian stroked Laura''s head, playing with her golden blonde hair. She avoided Laura''s eyes while Laura stared into hers.


    "Stop it, Laura! Don''t look at me like that!" Vivian snapped, as she started setting the flower vase on the side table. Laura was still looking at her. Vivian stopped suddenly and turned to Laura. "Why didn''t you tell me someone was trying to hurt you?"


    Laura looked away, staring out the window.


    "Laura, look at me!" Vivian went to the other side of the bed. Tears rolled down Laura''s face, her eyes red and face smitten. Vivian wiped her tears and held her face in her hands, her own eyes glittering with remorse.


    "Laura..." she said, her voice faltering. "I didn''t want you to take any stress... Has something like this ever happened before?"


    Laura shook her head.


    "If you''re comfortable, would you like to tell me what happened?"


    Laura closed her eyes for a minute and then began, "A few days ago, Mark came out of your office in a hurry, full of anger. I tried to calm him down, but he looked at me with pure venom. He started following me everywhere, like he wanted to kill me. Then he caught me and said, ''Why are you running from me? Do you also think I''m invisible? A rat? Huh?'' And as I moved back, he started to strangle me, hysterically saying, ''I will kill you, I will kill you...''"The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    There was a prolonged pause.


    Laura resumed, "Where is he?"


    "Where is who?"


    "Mark, where is he now?"


    "He''s dead."


    How?


    We don’t know yet.. Vivian responded


    Laura was shocked and started having a mental breakdown.


    Vivian sighed, her shoulders slumping. She sat down on the edge of the bed, taking Laura''s hand in hers. "It''s complicated, Laura. The police are still trying to piece everything together. There are so many unanswered questions."


    "Vain, I''m sorry. It''s all my fault. If I hadn''t approached him first, this wouldn''t have happened. I''m sorry, I''m sorry, I''m really sorry..."


    Saying this, she closed her eyes, fidgeting all over and crying like a little child. The nurse immediately came into the room and asked Vivian to leave, stating that the patient needed rest. It was not good for her to receive such shocking news right now. She injected a tranquillizer into Laura, which started to calm her down.


    Vivian stroked Laura''s cheek, her voice tender yet firm. "Don''t you dare ever say such a thing again, okay? I''m always here for you."


    Saying this, Vivian left the room her own mind a whirlwind of thoughts and fears. and went to the parking lot.


    She couldn''t control herself and crumbled under the weight of all the mess. She was too tired and too sad. She sat on the floor, her back supported by the giant tires of her black Lexus. Her head felt heavy, her eyes fluttering as fatigue took hold. Her turtleneck sweater seemed to tighten around her neck, suffocating her. She desperately tugged at the fabric, trying to loosen it, but it was no use. She was just breathing, barely hanging on...


    "Wake her up..." A voice intruded on her hazy thoughts, cutting through the fog of exhaustion.


    "Ms. Vivian Donovan? Are you alright? Ms. Vivian?" The voice grew more insistent, shaking her from her stupor.


    Someone was shaking her, the touch firm but not unkind. She opened her tired eyes, squinting against the harsh light of the parking lot. Officer Maya had her hand on Vivian''s shoulder, her expression one of concern. Sarah Blake stood behind her, looking down at Vivian with a mix of curiosity and suspicion.


    Vivian tried to stand up but lost her balance on her long heels and fell back to the floor. The world spun around her as she stabilized herself with her hands on the cold concrete. She looked up, meeting Sarah''s cold gaze.


    Maya extended a hand, pulling Vivian to her feet with surprising strength. "You good?" she asked.


    "Yes..." Vivian replied, freeing herself from Maya''s hold. She straightened herself. Her eyes locked onto Sarah Blake''s, who continued to stare at her, hands in her pockets, her glare just as unyielding as her own self.


    Sarah finally spoke. "Why are you here, Ms. Vivian?"


    Vivian''s eyes narrowed. "Are you investigating me, officer?" she countered, her voice small yet carrying an undeniable edge of defiance.


    "Your condition does require an investigation as to why you were sleeping in a parking lot, 9 at night,"


    Hearing this, Vivian glanced at her watch. It was 9:15 PM. The realization of how much time had passed hit her head like a ton of bricks.


    She looked back at Sarah, determination hardening her features. She pushing her hair back with a resolve. Her keys were on the floor; she picked them up with a swift, and moved towards the driver''s side of her car. Sarah Blake and Maya still watching her.


    As she unlocked her car, she said, "Ah and Yesss… the next time you want to question me... get a warrant, Officer!," Saying this she slipped into her car, started the engine with a roar, and peeled out of the parking lot, the tires screaming against the pavement.


    Sarah Blake''s eyes followed the car until it disappeared into the distance, her arms crossed and her head tilted to one side, deep in thought. Her mind raced, trying to piece together the enigma that was Vivian Donovan. The sound of Vivian''s car fading into the night left an eerie silence in its wake.


    Just then, Officer William pulled up with their car, breaking Sarah''s reverie. She shook her head slightly, bringing herself back to the present. They had a lot of work ahead of them.


    "Let''s go," Sarah said, her voice resolute. "We have a lot to figure out."