3.

A little more than six weeks after an attack which left an attacker without his life, Greta is back at work. She is a single lady with little family to fall back upon if she were in need of ... the comfort of someone close. She needs, as much as anyone else, to be bringing in money. Her studies, given the occurrences of those previous six weeks, have indefinitely been put on hold, so she has taken on more hours at the bar where she had been on her way home from on the night which forever changed her life.

Not a good idea this, as she had been told multiple times, so many seem to have an opinion as well as an arrogant sense of right to share such an opinion. She should do this or needs to do that ... no, she needs to do what she feels she needs to do so she fights on, more determined and stronger on the outside than she has ever been before. She too has it confirmed that she is indeed pregnant, and the decision is she is keeping the baby, all the more reason to be back at work bring in some much-needed cash.

This development as a whole in the life of Greta Turner will bring many a difficulty including one or two which very rarely have ever been dealt with by anyone before but before all that, there is a visitor to the bar. A dark-skinned lady has come to sit alone at the bar. Greta turns to her and asks ...

'What can I get you?'

'Oh, I am not here for a drink; I haven't had a drink, especially in a place like this, for at least a little while now.'

'Then, if you don't mind me asking, why are you here?'

'I am here for you deary,' she says sounding like a lady much older than how she looks. 'You are Greta Turner, right?'

'I don't mean to be rude but what is that to you?'

'My name is Florence Reardon and the last time I have been in a place like this I was drugged, taken outside and then taken advantage of ...'

'Sorry to hear of this but what has that got to do with me?'

'I understand you had a horrific experience of your own not so long ago, if you have a moment or two ...'

'Look, I appreciate the concern, good will and all ...'

It is a little after two o'clock on a Saturday afternoon and the bar is relatively quiet. Out of concern, Greta is being kept to daytime hours as much as possible despite her own insistence that she is perfectly fine. The member of staff who had been on duty and had offered Greta a lift on the night of her attack is also on duty here now too, in fact he is a little more than just a member of staff. He is the owner of this building without actually being the owner. That aside for now, he had not meant to eavesdrop but with it being as quiet as it is, he could not help overhear so with that he takes a moment to interrupt and to make a suggestion.

'We aren't all so run off our feet right now' he says. 'I know you'd say I have nothing to feel guilty about, still I can't help it. I should have been there for you. For me, as a favour to me, why not take a minute and hear the lady out? Who knows, it might be a good thing? If it isn't a good thing then no harm done.'

Florence looks at Greta and her co-worker slash boss in a way which suggests that he has a good point. She is a stranger to this moment and to those within it though she does know the details of a current circumstance. Greta would like to say something smart in this moment, to reconfirm just how strong she is and how capable she is of getting through on her own though she decides that she wouldn't really be fooling anyone, so she gives in.

'Alright so, let's talk ...'

'Go sit down, I'll even bring over a couple of sandwiches and some coffee too' the co-worker says with a friendly smile.

Even though the two fellow workers are not all that close, Greta is appreciative that someone is looking out for her, someone who is not a doctor or a psychologist and also is genuinely not looking for anything in return. If only she had taken him up on his offer that night. But such in itself is odd for he himself lives directly above the bar so why would he want to go anywhere at such a late hour as closing time. Anyhow, for right now, that is neither here nor there.

Greta and Florence go sit in a corner, well away from anyone in this moment, not that there are many about, so with a coming conversation further eavesdropping should not be a concern.

'Ever since what happened to me, I have been taking in, so to speak, others who have experienced abuse of some kind or other' says Florence trying not to sound like some sort of sales person or representative of some kind of a religious sect. 'It is a great source of therapy for myself, not why I do it, but if I manage to help others then great ...'

Greta listens, being polite, this lady is certainly good willed, and Greta wants to believe that her visitor has come to offer aid of some sort and not for her own personal benefit so she at least will hear her out before trying to convince her or even herself that all is well.

'... I, along with a few others' continues Florence, 'have even set up a center and we can take ladies in for a limited time who have nowhere to go.'

'I have the upmost rest for you for that, really I do but I don't see how I fit in with all you are telling me. I have my own place, a job you obviously are aware of ...'

'What happened to you my dear is different, different to what happened to me and so many others. It was and is a high-profile case with your abuser receiving just and swift punishment and all. If there is anything at all, you want an ear to vent to, a helping hand for anything at all ... I am going to leave my details with you. You can contact me or someone from the center for anything and at any time. From a chat, a shoulder to cry on, advice on where to go next or even to vent or see what we do at that shelter of ours, please take advantage. I would want nothing in return.'

'Thank you ... I guess ...'

Florence comes across bubbly in a fun way and seems to be as strong willed as Greta is that it actually makes her smile unexpectedly. This is her first smile in such a long time, her first that feels good as any smile can and because of this fact she may just take Florence up on her offer.

Greta is sitting facing away from the bar and Florence is facing Greta so from over Greta's shoulder Florence can see that sandwiches and coffee are on their way.

'Um hum ... I'm famished. If anything, this center keeps me busy that I sometimes forget to eat'. She thanks the deliverer and digs in. 'He's a nice guy, and I don't often say that about guys especially one I have hardly spoken to or come across in bars.'

'Who Mike? I only ever talk to him in here to be honest. He offered me a lift home that night and I refused ...'

'That is one thing I may be able to help you with deary, the if only factor. We can all say that at one point, if only this or if only that, we just cannot foresee the bad things that are to come our way.'

The ladies sit together in silence from here on in until the coffee and sandwiches are gone and then it is back to work for them both.