The Raped Amulet

Chapter Twelve

88 Chapter Twelve nnie Parker, so she was called before she married Steve Bottomless, used to be the girl every young man wanted to associate with” Tom said, looking excited. “She was downto -earth, intelligent, resourceful and inspiring. Above these pleasant qualities, she was a piece of elegance. Her oval face that carried all the other parts, proportionately put in place, seemed to sit gracefully on an exquisite neck above her shoulders. The hair that capped her was gold. She was a metre sixty tall and she walked with such grace, one would think she was a descendant of Elizabeth II. At nineteen she had admission to read Law in Warwick University, your university. A year before graduation, a friend invited her to go for shopping at one of the malls in Birmingham. On their way back, her friend who was behind the steering wheel, suddenly lost concentration and the car skidded off the road and hit an embankment. Her friend died on the spot and Annie barely survived. She had multiple fractures and deep wounds on her face and other parts of her body. By the time she was in hospital, she had lost consciousness from profuse bleeding. Lucky girl, she got out of hospital after six months but she was an antithesis of the Annie everyone around her had known. She had a scar on her forehead and a twist on her nose. She, however, had to go on with her life. She returned to the university to end her course and start a career in banking. She had a job in the local branch of “A 89 Barclays in Kenilworth. She was gradually picking up the pieces of her shattered life. She had not only been scared physically but also morally. Several months after leaving the hospital, she did a routine HIV test and she was found to be sero-positive. She found this very embarrassing as she had been a very careful person as far as sex habits were concerned. A second test confirmed this status and it was quite devastating, especially because she could hardly conjecture how the virus got at her. However, she concluded that having been an accident patient needing blood transfusion and so much surgery, anything might have happened. She simply swallowed the pill and told herself that life had to continue. Annie usually spent her weekends receiving her well-wishers, who did not cease to visit her and encourage her to push on. Many of whom had been her friends at the university and family relatives. One weekend, in a cold winter Saturday evening, a tall dark gentleman in his thirties rang Annie’s doorbell. When she opened, it wasn’t one of the usual faces that stood facing her. It was a complete stranger but he looked genuinely friendly and also very attractive. She was embarrassed and so stood still for a few seconds. Then she thought she should ask him in. “Come in.” “Thank you,” he said as he walked in. “Can I take your coat?” “Of course,” he answered as he handed the coat to her. “Have a seat.” 90 “Thank you. It’s pleasantly warm here. You’ve got quite a cozy place.” “Thank you.” “You’re Parker. Annie Parker, aren’t you?” “Yes, I am.” “I’m Steve. Steve Bottomless.” “Hello Steve. It’s a pleasure for you to visit me like this.” “The pleasure’s all mine. I’m sorry I just ran into you like that. I live only a couple of blocks from you, so out of curiosity, I decided to walk here and visit.” “That’s all right. You want some coffee or tea?” “Coffee, please.” Annie turned her back and walked to the kitchen. As she did she felt the bright eyes of Steve watching her every step. Instinctively, she turned her head and shot a glance at him over her left shoulder. She caught his eye. He was actually following her every step. She wondered whether the wretched soul that she had become could have a place in the heart of such a handsome man. She took his gestures for mere curiosity. Five minutes later, she returned with two hot coffees and extended her right hand to him. “Here you are, Steve” “Thanks a lot” At first they sipped their coffee in silence but a few minutes later, Annie broke the silence. “Where do you work, Steve?” “I...