Her voice came out steadier than she expected. “Why are you doing this?” The figure flinched, freezing mid-motion. Slowly, they turned toward her. The hood slipped back, rain glistening on pale hair and tired eyes. In that single, suspended moment, Ellen’s anger faltered, replaced by recognition she couldn’t yet name.
The woman turned fully, rain streaking down her face. Ellen gasped. It wasn’t a stranger at all but a face from the most painful corner of her memory. “I’m sorry,” the woman whispered. “I didn’t mean to frighten you.” Her voice trembled. “I’m Anna. I was one of Sam’s nurses.”