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.

she accidentally bumped into someone's chest. She winced and touched her

going?" she said. If her

the person she had collided with, didn't seem to feel any pain. He responded calmly, "Weren't you watching where you were

was annoyed by his presence. "You saw me but chose to walk into me,

Richard maintained his composure

might be her only ticket to

you do me a favor?" She stopped him

can't,"

to plead shamelessly, "I

cold glance and interrupted her. "It's none

she had grown

brainstorm alternative solutions. Perhaps she could climb over a wall, although that seemed dirty

suddenly asked,