"I’m leaving the city! Will you talk to now?" Her voice sounded breathless and high.
"You’re leaving? Where are you going?" Edie asked, looking over her inquisitively.
"I’m going back to Europe. I haven’t told Stuart yet." Anna looked at Marina and back at Edie. "Would you take a walk with ? There’s sothing I need to tell you. Please, give a chance to explain." There was a tinge of sadness in her voice.
Edie was reluctant, but she agreed. They walked outside to a garden behind the hospital. They sat down on a bench. Anna stared at Edie for what felt like an eternity before she finally spoke.
"Stuart grew up in a wealthy family, and I was born into a wealthy family. I have been financially secure my whole life. I was truly a spoiled child. The first ti I saw Stuart was at an equestrian class. My daddy thought it would be good for to go. I fought him every single step of the way. When my dad dropped off, I wasn’t going to stay. But there was this man about my age. He was dressed in black, riding a horse and passed by . It was from Stuart." Anna smiled at the mories of her childhood.
"Anna, you don’t have to explain. Stuart told how the two of you t," Edie said and started to get up.
"Please, just listen?" Anna held onto Edie’s arm and wouldn’t let her go.
"The mont I had first set eyes on him, I knew I had to have him. I dutifully tried to conceal my feelings and win his affection and trust. I wanted to make him love . It was one year before Stuart even spoke one word to , and five years before he even considered a friend. I wanted more, but he only saw as a friend." Anna’s face was pale and haggard with the bitterness of grief.
Anna turned her head and looked directly into Edie’s eyes. "Am I boring you?" she asked.
Edie shook her head slowly, "No, I’m sorry. I don’t know a lot about Stuart’s past. Please continue!"
Anna let out a sigh, "To tell you the truth, and I have always been jealous of you. I kept wishing and hoping that Stuart would look at the sa way that he looks at you. I’ve known him for ten years, and he’s only accepted as his friend. You’ve known for a few months, and I’ve never seen him look at another woman, the way he looks at you. Not even Marina. If you were , how would you feel?"
Edie didn’t know how to answer. She had never cared for Anna, but a part of her felt sorry for her.
"I used to think Stuart was born cold, and I beca accustod to the way he looked at with his cold, dark eyes. Then I saw how he looked at you. I didn’t want to see it, and I didn’t want to be wrong. You’re so kind and gentle, and I see how deeply he loves you. I never believed Stuart was capable of being gentle, until.." Anna paused. The more she spoke, the more bitter she beca. The words were stuck in her throat.
Anna reached up and touched the tears with her fingertips. "I had a past with Stuart, but you are his future. I know he doesn’t want in his life, and I wish you both nothing but happiness," Anna shook her head and continued to cry softly.
Edie couldn’t believe what she just heard. Anna was her bitterest enemy, and she didn’t seem to be the kind of woman to back down. Edie looked surprised and relieved. "Thank you, Anna, for telling this. I know how hard this must have been for you."
Anna could only smile bitterly. Edie had barely finished the sentence when Anna’s cell phone rang. She looked at the screen, grimaced and said, "Sorry, I’ve got to take this."
Edie nodded, and Anna turned away and walked a short distance to the hospital. Edie sat on the bench, waiting for Anna to return when suddenly a loud sound grew close. She looks up and sees a man running and screaming in a hospital gown. He had sothing in his hand, waving it wildly in the air. He turned around toward Edie as if in slow motion. He ran straight at her, grabbed her hair, and swung her around repeatedly in a circle.
Sothing shiny glinted in the sunlight. Edie stared at it, terrified. It was big and sharp and jagged. "A knife. No, no, no!" She wanted to scream, but the sound died in her throat.
"Don’t co any closer. I’m not sick. That woman, she betrayed . I’m going to kill her," he shouted.
He pulled Edie closer and held the cold steel against her throat. Edie widened her eyes and drew a deep breath.
One of the doctors spoke out, "You need to calm down and put the knife down. Let’s go inside and talk about it."
"No! You’re all saying that I’m sick. I’m not sick, and I’m not crazy. Find my wife, and you will find out the truth. She’s the reason, and I’m in here." He pulled the knife closer to Edie’s neck. The knife pinched her skin. Sobs shook her, and all she could feel was his breath against her face.
The doctor was still trying to persuade him to put the knife down. "There’s no need for a hostage. Let the woman go. She didn’t do anything to you. She’s innocent."
The man shouted hysterically, "Get out of here. I don’t want to talk to you. I will only talk to my wife. It doesn’t matter what happens to this woman. All won are the sa."
Edie was terrified. She knew he was unstable, and she knew if she struggled, the knife would cut her. "Please, calm down. I don’t know what your wife did to you, but not all won are the sa," Edie said, trembling from head to foot.
"Shut up! Don’t you say another word," he said while getting angrier and angrier by the minute.
Donald was at the hospital and saw the crowd of people and heard the screaming. He pushed his way through and saw the man holding Edie. Without thinking, he started to run towards Edie, and soone grabbed his arm. "What do you think you’re doing? He’ll kill you or the woman or both of you," said the security guard.
Donald hated feeling so helpless. He wanted to save Edie, but there was nothing he could do.
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