“I haven’t forgotten anything.”
“You’re going to the hospital to see your sister quite often these days, aren’t you? You rush there with bags full every day,” remarked Andrew to his wife, Anna, as she returned from the hospital again. They sat down for dinner.
“Why does that bother you so much?” Anna asked, surprised.
“It’s not that it bothers me. I get it, she’s your sister. But Kate isn’t in serious condition, and she has other visitors besides you—her husband, daughter, son, and daughter-in-law. Why are you going every day? Or is there a charming doctor there that you’re keen to see daily?”
“What nonsense are you talking, Andrew!” Anna retorted. “How could you think such a thing? And by the way, Kate’s doctor is a woman. So your theory completely falls apart.”
“No, really, Anna, enlighten me. Why do you need to run to the hospital every day after work? You’re up at six in the morning, preparing all sorts of broths and juices… Then you dash home after work, pack your bag, and race to the hospital? What’s this about? Are you punishing yourself or something? Honestly, you’re exhausted, not getting enough sleep. Look, you have dark circles under your eyes.”
“Alright, I’ll tell you, since you won’t drop it,” Anna sighed, clearing the table. “Let me make us some tea, and we can talk.”
“Please do,” Andrew said eagerly. “Because I really don’t get it…”
***
Seventeen-year-old Anna Westfield arrived in the big city after finishing school, hoping to get into a university or college somehow. She was born and raised in a small town where there weren’t any opportunities to pursue further education or a career. Anna was determined to get her diploma and become a lawyer.
She didn’t pass the university exams, but she did manage to enroll in a law college, which thrilled her. The thought of going back to her small town with no prospects was something she dreaded. Working as a shop assistant, like her mother, wasn’t appealing to her, nor was living there.
Anna was resolute about establishing herself in the city, studying hard, finding a job, and building her personal life. She planned to visit her parents once she had made a life for herself and help them. She had ambitious plans.
In school, Anna dated Victor Calloway, a classmate. But unlike Anna, Victor had no aspirations for city life and wasn’t planning to leave his hometown. He worked on a farm with his parents and planned to join the army, then return to the farm, which was exactly the life he loved.
Anna was horrified at that future, and their breakup was easy for her as she realized he was not the hero of her story. Victor didn’t mind much either and married Alina six months later, a girl who had long admired him and finally caught his attention.
Anna got a place in a student dormitory and started adjusting to her new life at college. She aimed for top grades to earn a scholarship. Her parents sent her a monthly money transfer, so she wasn’t struggling financially. She wasn’t living extravagantly, but she wasn’t starving either.
That autumn day is etched in Anna’s memory… She was on a crowded bus coming back from the library, where she had been preparing for a seminar on civil law. She stayed late and got caught up in the evening rush hour. The bus was packed.
Getting off the bus, Anna felt like a sardine in a can, relieved to escape the crush, only to realize with horror her bag had been slashed… Her wallet was gone, and she broke out in a cold sweat.
Such thefts were common, exploitative pickpockets working the crowded transit lines took advantage of distracted passengers… Finding the thief was nearly impossible.
To worsen things, Anna had just received her scholarship and a money transfer from her parents yesterday, all of which was in the stolen wallet. She didn’t get to stash the money under her mattress as usual. Now, her wallet was gone, and she was penniless…
This was compounded by a recent call to her parents, during which her mother told her that Dad’s pay was delayed, so she had to be frugal. They didn’t know when they could send her more.
Saying she was in shock was an understatement. Tears streamed down her face, she scolded herself for not pocketing the money sooner and not paying enough attention on the bus. She had heard about these incidents. In fact, a classmate had been similarly robbed recently. Now Anna found herself in the same boat…
There was no point in reporting to the police. She hadn’t seen anyone’s face clearly on the bus. Finding the thief would be harder than finding a needle in a haystack, utterly impossible to recover her wallet.
That cheap wallet was most likely discarded now, while the thief pocketed the money… All her money… How could she survive now? What would she eat? Her food supplies were down to a block of margarine, two onions, tea, some buckwheat, and pasta. Surely not enough to last the month.
“Why are you crying?” asked Julia, her roommate, seeing Anna’s tears.
Anna explained her misfortune.
“Well,” Julia sighed. “Tough luck, but you’re to blame. Who carries all their money around? You should’ve clutched your bag or tucked the money into your bra or pants. These days you’ve gotta be on guard, watching over yourself. You’re an A student but, no offense, in other matters, you act clueless, Anna… you’re like a headless chicken…”
Anna already understood this, and Julia’s words weren’t helping… She wasn’t even insulted by being called a clueless chicken because that’s exactly how she felt right now… But time doesn’t rewind, and it was too late to fix it. The money was gone, but life carried on somehow.
Anna dismissed the idea of calling her parents from a phone booth. She felt ashamed to admit to her mum and dad that she was so careless. They had their own financial woes, with dad’s paycheck delayed, living off what mum made from her shop job. Her mum’s paycheck mostly went on groceries. They had to eat, and they also had a younger daughter, Kate, to feed…
Getting a job might be the only choice, Anna mused. But who would pay right away? She’d have to work for a month or at least two weeks for an advance… But new hires don’t usually get an advance… What to do? The situation seemed hopeless…
“Want me to introduce you to a ‘sugar daddy’? Julia suddenly suggested.
“Who?” Anna was confused.
“Oh, have you been living under a rock? Some rich man who’ll support you in exchange for… well, you get it, right? Or do I need to spell it out?”
“No need, I understand…”
“Good. So, you know, you’re quite the looker, so there’ll be plenty of guys interested… You’d have it made.”
Julia’s suggestion didn’t sit well with Anna. The thought of selling herself to an aging wealthy man made her queasy… She knew Julia didn’t mind doing it, thus never faced financial issues, but Anna deeply loathed the idea…
“So, want the intro?” Julia asked again.
“No,” Anna shook her head, then hesitated before asking, “Julia, could you lend me a bit? Just until my next scholarship payment. I have nothing at all.”
“Sorry, can’t lend. I splurged on clothes and makeup, got a bit left for food. But my offer still stands if you want it. So think about it. I mean, when you’ve nothing to eat, your morals aren’t what you’ll hold on to.”
Anna didn’t reply to Julia, turned to the wall, and quietly wept again. Before long, without realizing, she fell asleep…
