4.

How difficult can it be to find a lady who stands out like a sore thumb? It's not like she got much of a head start or anything of the sorts, but passers-by were either uninterested or couldn't be bothered helping when Henry asked questions of them. How hard is it to answer a question? Have you seen an odd-looking lady in a white and red dress? It's a question that requires either a yes or a no answer and a yes reply would lead to a where have you seen her question. Not so difficult though extracting answers was a difficulty unto itself.

Forty-five minutes pass and the searching comes to an end, forty-five minutes, how could she have gotten so far away that a search may take so long? Luckily, he hasn't completely lost her for he sees her sitting alone at a wooden park like bench and table. Not to frighten her off he moves to her slowly and she sees him coming. Out in the open, what harm can come from just talking to this stranger? He is just one person as opposed to many people; she can deal with one person so long he is not aggressive or unruly. If things get too difficult, she can always just ... scream.

As gently as possible, he attempts to appear friendly. He sits opposite her and rests his forearms on the table in between them. She watches with a mix of trepidation and wonder and is willing for the moment at least to be a part of this encounter. He moves his glance up from the table in an effort to catch her eyes and she does the same.

'Hi ... my name is Henry. Can you tell me your name?'

She remains quiet and he cannot help but wonder as to if she is working with a full deck, for she doesn't even acknowledge his presence, something else may be clicking for him too.

'That dress you are wearing. It's really lovely. Were you at a party, or some sort of Ball perhaps?'

He is about to ask her another question when he sees her smile, anticipating a response he remains quiet for a bit.

'I ... I hate the dress. I ... don't ... I don't ...'

'You don't what? ... Think it's quite you?'

'Yeah ...' she glances away briefly then turns back his way to meet his eyes for a first time.

There is something about her eyes. He is almost certain that they are not new to him. 'Can I ask you something? It might sound odd but trust me; I have been around a fair bit of odd today.'

'Sure.'

'You can tell me that it's none of my business if you like but would I be right in assuming that you have no memory?'

She sits up and slightly back. Her reaction has given Henry his answer, so he continues to speak.

'Would it surprise you to know that I am in the same boat as you? I ... em ... I woke in a field not all so long ago. I woke in the suit I am wearing right now, and I have no memory as to how I got to that field. I have no idea who I am, what I might do for a living ... I know absolutely nothing.'

'Then how do you know what your name is?'

'Good question. I can't know for sure. There was a bag next to me when I woke. In this bag I found keys, keys that led me to a passport, my passport I presume. My name of course is on it. I can't tell if I was trying to get somewhere. I don't know if I was in some type of trouble. I know next to nothing. I have been basically wandering around since I woke up until I saw you. Forgive me but you do stand out a little and something about that song you were singing, not just the song itself but how you were singing too.'

'So, you followed me?'

'Yeah, and here we are. Would you like to tell me about your day?'

'Eh ... not sure ...'

'It is alright, maybe I can help you, maybe we can help one another ...'

'I woke in a hotel room a little while ago. I've got absolutely nothing ... not even a name people frighten me; my own reflection even scared me. It looks like I am easily scared, maybe I always have been.'

'You think you always were scared of ...people?'

'I think so, yeah, perhaps its crowds I don't do well with, then again, I feel I'd rather not talk with you even though ...'

'... even though you could use a friend. You didn't find anything in your room before you left it?'

'Like what?'

'Oh, I don't know, perhaps like a bag. I had a duffle bag, ya know, it had keys in it, and then I found that passport I spoke of.'

'I don't know, I didn't really look around.

'Do you still have access to that room?'

'I'm not sure. I guess.'

'You guess.'

'I still have a key card for the room. I didn't check out, couldn't tell you if I had ever checked in.'

'You should go back you know, see if you can find any clues. I may be getting ahead of myself here too but maybe we didn't meet by chance. We are both dressed up to be somewhere. Maybe both came from somewhere; maybe what happened to us both is not a coincidence.'

She thinks for a moment. 'The hotel is not so far away.'

'Yeah, I think I seen it. Would you like me to come with you?'

'I don't know about that ...'

'Tell you what; I can hang about in the lobby while you go check the room out. If you find anything or not, we will have each other to discuss a possible what next.'

'Alright ... there is one problem.'

'What would that be?'

'I don't like people, remember? I probably never or at least hardly ever went outside. I don't know how I am going to get back to the hotel. It was a struggle to get this far away. I don't particularly want to walk back the way I came.'

Henry takes a deep breath. 'OK, I think I have a solution. Do you think you could wait for me right here?'

'Why? What are you going to do?'

'You will see when I get back.'

It looks like her agitation levels are rising again.

'I ... I ...'

'Hey, hey, it'll be fine. I promise. I tell you what; do you think I could call you Bonnie?'

'Bonnie?'

'Yeah, like the song you were singing. I'll need to call you something until we know better.'

'Alright ...' she smiles.

She may have this not liking people thing but this Henry fellow; he is managing to put her at ease.

'OK Bonnie, I will be back for you real soon alright? I'll take that keycard of yours; you wait here for me.'

'What if there is a problem while you are gone?'

'I won't be too long. If you are finding it tough, take deep breaths and before you know it, I will be right back here, I promise.'

It was easy enough at first to wait but the more time that passed the greater her agitation became, growing to the point when almost every second was a torture onto itself. She couldn't wait. She had to move, move to where? For the moment it didn't matter. The act of moving, so long as there aren't so many people around, would be calming in itself.

She can stand no more so stand she does from her seated position. She has a quick look to her left. Is there anywhere she can go to down that way? Nothing catches her attention but before she can in fact move there is something else that grab her attention. A voice is calling her.

'Bonnie ... over here Bonnie.'

It's Henry, she recognizes his voice but initially doesn't see him, then there is a double beep. She turns her head to her right and there he is in quite the fancy car out at the side of the street. She moves over to the car.

'Was this in your duffel bag too?' she asks.

'Eh, not quite', he answers quickly. 'Come on, get in.'

She is a little weary about getting into the car but her need to get moving overrides everything else, so she does get into the car and off the two go in the direction of the nearby hotel. Parking is easily sorted and together Henry and Bonnie make their way into the hotel. She again is weary of those around her though apparently the comfortable feeling she has being in Henry's company is certainly a help.

'Alright' he says once they are within the lobby area. 'I will hang on here, you go on up and check everything and everywhere ...'

'Please ...'

'... Presses, drawers, closets, anywhere where anything can be stored.'

'Come up with me ... please.'

'Are you sure?'

'Yes.'