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𝑇𝑊𝐸𝐿𝑉𝐸

The first spot of rain that trickled down her bedroom window made Anna feel things that she had dreaded to feel. The headache that pounded at her head each day didn't help either, especially with the sound that echoed through the thin glass, like pebbles against the floor. The problem was that it reminded her far too much of home, of England. It made her feel sicker than she already was, prolonging the time she spent in bed, drowsy and stomach groggy from too much tea.

She had been stuck in bed for a month now. It was already deep into December and the idea of ever getting home seemed like a far off memory, of a dream that had been told to her by a stranger so many years ago. However, it didn't stop her of thinking about it. No matter how much the illness that brewed within her stayed, it seemed that it was only the memory keeping her alive and somewhat well.

The very frequent visits from her new friends helped too. Though Molly never strayed from her side for too long, Elliot had managed to move her along some days, but never for more than half an hour at a time. It seemed that she was destined to constantly worry, sometimes so much that she felt sick herself.

Anna felt as if she was getting better and better by the day. No more hallucinations, of which she refused to even think about. The illness that they had called spring fever had stayed with her longer than the usual victim, but she persisted with her fighting, and with smiles growing bigger as time went on, Anna felt hopeful once again. Even if the repetition of her days made her head numb from boredom.

But the rain had piqued her interest for a very eventful day before the early morning had even passed. Anna woke to see the sun barely up from the house that it escaped into each night, just at the bottom of her pretty street.

The first knock came at noon, the time that Elliot would usually come tripping in, a wide and goofy grin pulling at his cheeks, rouged from both sun and sweat. He was too active for Maya to keep up with, and so she would often appear in her doorway another ten minutes later, baring a tea pot and cake fresh from Mrs Bagley's kitchen. Sometimes they would bring a game to play, or a new book for her to read over the next days until they would see her, and for that she couldn't be more thankful. Staying in the same room, the same stifling heat to keep her company was as tedious as things could get. Only last week, they had played cards. Elliot had lost a few marbles- the only thing he could have bet.

"Anna, you have a visitor." Moly's voice wavered in from beneath the doorway. She didn't usually escort them up.

"Elliot?"

Molly's face appeared in the doorway, her hair messy as if she had run her hands through it too many times and her whole face flushed as it always was when she spent days running about the house.

"Not quite."

A man appeared in the doorway, still managing to look solemn dispute the smile thag was on his face. But it didn't quite reach his hazel eyes, the wrinkles that surrounded them moving not an inch, as if his face was still straight. It was for that reason, that it took her a few moments to recognise him.

"Robert!"

She took in his face. How hadn't she recognised him? He was still the same, the bronzed sheen that highlighted his dark skin, the smile that made him look regally kind. But he still looked sad- and that was most unlike what's Anna had come to know him as.

"How are you, Anna?" He has the voice of a school teacher: wise and purposeful.

"Not as good as I could be."

He gave a chuckle. "I can see."

"What are you doing here?"

"I came to see how you were doing after these first months." She raised her brows. "And I also wanted to thank you."

"What for?"

He sighed. It was only then that the smile properly meg his eyes, twinkling like stars. "You inspired me, Anna. You wanted to find your mother so bad that you never lost hope. You inspired me to find my own family again."

She had never fully learned what happened to Robert and his family. She had never wanted to push too much in fear to upset him from memory. Anna knew herself how much it could hurt to bring up unsettled recollections. All she knew, was that he helped her because she was in the same position that his daughter would have been in.

"I'm so happy for you," she said.

"And I you."

"I hope you find what you're looking for." She smiled.

"And I hope, Anna, that you're happy. No matter where you are."

He must have seen it, he must have been able to tell. Robert was looking at her with his head tilted, eyebrows raised sensibly. It was a look that said a lot. I know how you feel. I understand what you're struggling with. I hope things work out.

"Thank you." It was all she felt like she could say.

"There's something else I have to tell you." The smile was flattened as he took a seat. Molly was still lingering by the doorway.

Anna frowned. "What is it?"

"Mr Elsner..." he began. "He came to me, while I was working in the docks. He still expects you to pay him back."

Her jaw slackened. She had almost forgotten about the man. Her time in Australia had been so pleasant that thoughts of the threats she had received upon leaving had slipped her worry. It was inevitable that her troubles would return. Happiness could never remain for long. It wasn't natural.

"What?" Her voice came out weakly- as weak as she felt. Her shoulders were slumped, her head leaning lazily against the backboard to her bed.

"Be careful, Anna. He's not the man you thought he was."

"I know," she said, swallowing back the lump of anxiety that had blocked her throat roughly. "I know that now."

Anna was thankful for the smile that Robert had attempted to place in front. But it looked about as fake as a mask in a circus, too over the top. Either way, she lifted her lips to smile back and listened.

"I hear you've made some new friends."

"Yeah. Elliot and Maya." Just the thought of the two could make her feel better.

So Anna told the man of her friends. She told him about their adventures: the jokes, the smiles, the feeling of freedom. She told him about how they had met and about every day they had spent together since. She told him about the beach, that ran for miles long, untouched and as beautiful as any forest or spot of sun they would see in England.

It was more for herself than for him, but she didn't care. She wanted to recount the memories that soon enough she would cherish on colds night across the sea. Just as she had done those months ago with Josephine and Will heavy in her mind. Anna wanted to think about her friends and talk about them and love them, because soon, she wouldn't be safe by their sides as she was now.

It seemed that Anna was rather popular that week despite the rather poor weather that rattled the Australian shoreline that she lined on. A storm had overcome them, though it was talked about very little in comparison to what would have been in England. She could almost hear Mr Kinney's rattly voice complaining as she looked out of the window, distracted from the book she had left on her bed long ago. Goddamned rain. Never bloody stops! The bad weather was as relentless as his foul moods.

This time, when Molly knocked timidly against her bedroom door, she didn't bother to ask if it was Elliot or Maya. They had come the precious day and she had heard their heavy footsteps blinding up the stairs before they had even reached her room.

Mrs Bagley ducked in, her face pulled into an unsure smile. "You have another visitor."

The pounding of her heart had reached her ears before she had registered the name of the person who stood in front of her. She felt sick again, her head aching and stomach knotting. Mr Elsner grinned, his dark eyes cutting through her head.

"Miss...Anna," he drawled in greeting.

"He says he was a friend of your family in England," Molly said, worry lacing her voice. She had come to sit on her bed, Matthew appearing by the doorway. They had noticed her paled face.

"He is no friend," she growled, glaring.

Within seconds, Matthew appeared in front of the man, standing tall with his shoulders squared up. "I will ask you to leave."

"No. I want a word first." Mr Elsner didn't even bother to look at Mr Bagley. "This, girl, owes me money. She owes me work for the food she ate and dress she was given on my boat."

"You tricked me, you foul man!" Anna screamed. The sudden outburst almost made her hurl, but Molly coaxed her back against the headboard.

"I will ask you to leave one more time," Matthew said lowly, blocking his view of her.

"You owe me," he said his last words. "And you alone."

Matthew gripped the man's arms, pushing him backward toward the door. But Mr Elsner glared down at him, ripping his arm forcefully from his hole. He said, "No need for that. I'll show myself out."

Matthew trailed him as he watched Mr Elsner leave. Then he turned to his wife, his eyebrows still drawn tightly and lips a ghost of a snarl.

"I told you to ask her first, before you let him in!" He shouted.

"Stop! It's not her fault," Anna interrupted. "I trusted him once too."

How could she have let this happen? Molly came to sit by her side, her hand on her shoulder.

"Tell us what happened, Anna," she said. "We can help you."

"No. I'll sort this out myself."

Anna would do it all herself. She would escape, leaving Mr and Mrs Bagley without her burden. And she would do it the only way she knew: she would run.

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