THE SENTINEL
Part 2: THE SURPRISE 

By Tessa Harvey

    Sylvia was leaning against a wall a little way from the main hospital entrance. It was tucked into a corner where there was an exit-entrance which meant no-one could enter without a keycard, but treated day patients could leave that way if convenient.
    She felt terrible. Somehow the police had recovered her handbag and she had her well-hidden credit card and a cracked pair of old sunglasses. Despite the dull cold day, she wore them. A look in the hospital bathroom mirror, a burnished metal of some sort, had shown her one black eye.
    An older woman walked by on the footpath and paused, assessing her. It was clear she had noticed the bruising.
    At another time Sylvia would have rolled her eyes....obviously the older woman had not realised Sylvia could see her clearly through the sunglasses, trying to assess the damage.

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