Woman from Nowhere

I couldn’t forget her if I tried. It was her perfume. That was what I first noticed about her.

It was last year. She looked dressed up for a party. The Woman in Red. That’s what they called her. Not hard to see why. The day she showed up in Babylon she wore a long red flowing dress. It was a week-long celebration of the city. Chun and I wouldn’t partake. We had to document the city. She would end up part of that documentation.

I chuckled to myself.

She came along and turned everything on its head.

She showed up by ten in the morning. Everyone in the airport had their eyes on her. How could they not? Honey blonde hair up in a messy bun. Her skin looked like it hadn’t seen the sun in days. Large black sunglasses hid her eyes. She made her way to the ticket booth. Who was she? Where did she come from? Why was she here?

Everyone had to know. How could they not? You needed to see her. She… What was her name?

I closed my eyes and tried to think. I could see her face. Her name was on the tip of my tongue. I think it started with an “S”. Or was it a “C”? I frowned as I tried to remember. It will come back to me.

I met that woman myself. First, I too have something to confess.

I went out to the masquerade Babylon held on the city’s founding night. My mentor was probably there too. I didn’t see him. I didn’t see him. Too many people around. I hadn’t planned on staying long. I just wanted to check things out. So much activity around. Chatting, dancing, eating, drinking, and socializing. I didn’t know where to look first. I wasn’t used to so many people around. I needed to sit down for a breather.

I went out to the Greenhouse Garden on the roof. I sat on the bench and breathed out. I stared up at the sky. I was starting to see why Chun didn’t go out all the time. But I couldn’t stay cooped up in that office every day either. I closed my eyes and rubbed my forehead. I didn’t know how to balance my work. (I’ve gotten a little better with it, but it could still use some work.)

Suddenly, I had a feeling that I wasn’t alone.

Slowly, I turned my head to the right. And there she was. All I could see was her profile. She had on a lacy black and dark red masquerade mask. Her outfit didn’t look out of place for Mardi Gras. Her jewelry looked like it came from the Victorian period. Oh…

“Hello?” I asked. This woman turned her head. I couldn’t see her face but I couldn’t stop staring.

“Who… Who are you?” I asked. She didn’t answer. She stared at me from behind that masquerade mask of hers. None of us had an idea of how much she would turn life in this city on its head. It all started when I said “hello”.