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.

into someone's chest. She winced and touched her

not looking where you were going?" she said. If her nose got deformed

collided with, didn't seem to feel any

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

her sarcastic remark, Richard maintained his composure and remained

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

a favor?" She stopped him and looked up at

can't," he replied

She began to plead shamelessly, "I need to get inside, but the security guard won't let me

a cold glance and interrupted her. "It's none of my

have to be this cruel, Richard?" Pearl felt deflated by his rejection. Although she had grown thick-skinned enough not to be

alternative solutions. Perhaps she could climb over a

Richard suddenly