Your Guise Is Slipping, Miss Pearl

Pearl left the hospital and hailed a taxi. She gave the driver Esther's address and, after a half-hour ride, they arrived at their destination. Pearl paid the fare, stepped out of the cab, and made her way to the entrance. However, a security guard stopped her in her tracks.

"Please show me your ID," he demanded.

"I'm a friend of the resident here. She invited me over," Pearl explained.

"You say you're her friend. Do you have any evidence? If not, please leave now." The security guard appeared skeptical, unsure if Pearl's claim was legitimate or if she might be an overzealous fan trying to sneak in.

"I can call her to confirm," Pearl suggested, reaching for her phone.

The security guard, somewhat reluctantly, agreed to this proposal.

Pearl attempted to call Esther, but there was no answer after three consecutive calls.

"Alright, ma'am, you'll have to leave if you can't provide any evidence," the security guard said impatiently, keen to resume his duties.

bumped into someone's chest. She winced and touched

If her nose got deformed from the bump, it would

to feel any pain.

and was annoyed by his presence. "You saw me but chose to walk into me, Mister Richard. You're the

Richard maintained his composure

tone was stern, but Pearl suddenly realized that he might be her only ticket to gaining access to the

Richard, can you do me a favor?"

can't," he replied

and threw her pride to the wind. She began to plead shamelessly, "I

glance and interrupted her. "It's none

felt deflated by his rejection. Although she had grown

breath and tried to brainstorm alternative solutions. Perhaps she could climb over a wall, although that

when Richard suddenly asked, "Why do you need to