Duskwood: At first time

-3- An accident

Anna knew that she lived far from Duskwood, but she couldn't even imagine that much. Almost two days of precious vacation were spent only on the road. She found herself in the motel almost at night, and she didn't have the strength to go out. She wanted to take a shower, finally eat and try to sleep. Maybe her brain, tired from traveling, wouldn't torment her with insomnia.

Her wet hair fell heavily over her shoulders. An electric kettle was making a faint noise in the corner. Eating at night is not the best idea, but sometimes you can afford such thing. Especially if the last time you ate was around 6 AM. There was simply no time on the road since she really didn't want to miss the right turn.

Anna went to the window and, slightly moving the curtain, took a picture of the landscape. For memory and not only. She fell on the bed with her arms outstretched, but couldn't stand it for a long time. She reached into her bag for her phone. The kettle in the corner clicked off. Anna poured a portion of noodles and returned to the bed. In the messenger, a reassuring green inscription burned next to the name of a pen pal. She smiled and sent the photo, quickly adding:

Viol: Hey, Jessy!
You know the landscape, don't uyou? 🙂

Jessy: Vi! Did you come to Duskwood after all?
How long ago?

Oh, she never changed that chat middle name. Although, maybe it's for the best. Who really cares what her first name is? If necessary, she can introduce herself.

Viol: About 30 minutes
I told you you'd find out first.
Maybe I'll see you tomorrow?

Jessy: Of course!
After work, I'm all yours🤭
Let's repeat our virtual date live, hee-hee

Jessy went offline. Anna explored the last message for a few more seconds. It was necessary to somehow hint to a friend that they were friends, that it wasn't worth flirting. But in what way she will have to think about it next time. So far, Anna was more interested in another question: to text or not to text? After all, there was another person who definitely wanted to write about the decision she had made. On the other hand, what will this information give him? Moreover, it is already late, there is not even a hint of online next to his profile. The selfish desire to exchange at least a couple of phrases is strong, but... Anna put down the phone. It can wait until morning. Right now, her goals are dinner and trying to fall asleep. In the morning, it's possible to walk around and learn a little about the town.

Although in fact, she no longer feel like eating.

Anna shivered and pulled her sweater around her. It's not very hot here either. The phone beeped, notifying of a new message. She looked at the screen and smiled. That's all settled. But why did such warmth suddenly spread in her chest? From just one message...

Jake: Hello, Anna.
Did you decide to come after all?

Viol: Your awareness is both fascinating and frightening
Yes, I have arrived. I promised Jessy after that, uh, date that I'd come
I'm used to keeping my word.

Jake: Date?

Anna literally bit her tongue. After all, she was against such a name and usually corrected Jessy. And suddenly she wrote it herself. Is it contagious? Is it transmitted by text, or what?

Viol: That's what she calls it. We were just texting.
I wanted to support her.

Anna reread the hastily typed messages and snorted. Now it looked like she was making excuses.

Jake: It's an interesting way to support.
Have you been practicing for a long time?

She blinked in disbelief. If she was making excuses, then there were definitely traces, scary to think, of jealousy in his recent message. But they don't even dating. They haven't behaved like this before. And this made the situation seem doubly interesting and three times illogical. What happened to them? What was so special about the night? The moon is in the third house? Or retrograde Mercury?