FROM: |
AnnaBrowne8@gmail.com |
TO: |
Sender2006@me.mail.com |
SUBJECT: |
Thank you so much! |
Anna’s brow furrowed. That was wrong. Too friendly.
SUBJECT: |
Parcels |
That didn’t work, either. Too businesslike. She let out a sigh. It had taken her the better part of an hour to get this far: how long could one email conceivably take to write? Perhaps she was overthinking this. There had to be a simpler way . . .
SUBJECT: |
Alfie says hello! |
Who was she talking to, a seven-year-old? Tired and annoyed, she pushed her chair back from the dining table and walked stiffly to the kitchen for a glass of water. The blank email form glowed accusingly at her across the living room.
This should be easy. Say hello, thank them for the gifts and ask for their name. It’s hardly rocket science.
So why did every word seem weighted with importance?
The blue digital-clock display on her oven winked 11.49 p.m. at her repeatedly. It was too late to call anyone, even Jonah, who had an early start for his next filming assignment in the morning. Not that he’d specifically offered his help this time, which Anna found odd, considering his enthusiasm for seeking out Alfie earlier today. In fact he had spoken very little on their way back to Walton Tower, receiving Anna’s thanks in the corridor outside their apartments with a muttered ‘No problem’, and walking to his door without looking back. Had he been embarrassed by Anna’s outburst? Even now, hours afterwards, she wished Jonah hadn’t seen her cry. Was it a step too far in their friendship – or the embrace that followed? Perhaps he wished that hadn’t happened, too?
A heavy sense of unease settled over her, as unwilling to leave her mind as the frustratingly blank email form on her computer. The parcel’s arrival had been so welcome, so exhilarating after the weeks without: how had that suddenly changed? While the thought behind the old record and the trip to the vintage shop had been well meant, what did it achieve? Like all her gifts to date, what did it mean? Instead of an adventure, the parcels were leading her up dead-end alleys; and, for the first time, Anna found herself wondering if the mysterious gifts were a good thing for her. All she wanted was a quiet life. She liked the changes she had seen in herself, but perhaps they were enough for now. The not knowing and her building frustration weren’t fun at all.
It was late and she knew she wouldn’t be able to sleep until she’d sent her message. I’m thinking about this too much. I’m just going to send the email and stop worrying . . .
FROM: |
AnnaBrowne8@gmail.com |
TO: |
Sender2006@me.mail.com |
SUBJECT: |
Hello |
I’d like to thank you for the very kind and thoughtful gifts you have sent me. I don’t know who you are, or why you decided to give me these things, but I want you to know that they have meant a great deal.
I don’t understand why you haven’t given your name, but I suppose you have your reasons for doing this. I’d like to be able to thank you in person – is that something you would be happy to do? If so, you know where I work already, and now you have my email address. If not, thank you for your generosity and for thinking of me.
I hope to hear from you soon.
Best wishes
Anna Browne
Satisfied, she sat back in her chair. Asking the sender to meet her in person was a bold move, especially for her. But she had to know. Maybe her invitation would persuade whoever it was to come forward. Maybe then her questions would be answered and she could get on with her life. Until the mystery was solved, she was stuck. It scared her, but it was the only way.
Taking a deep breath, she hit Send.