It was raining, it was dark, and Liza was tired. She needed to make to it Newlands. She’d be there for three days, meetings back-to-back, trying to get the new store open before Christmas, and she never slept well in hotels. She already felt absolutely exhausted.

Her mind was elsewhere. Her boyfriend, Dave, hadn’t wanted her to go on this trip. He had a big show of his paintings opening. But she had no option. She was the regional manager; this was her job. What could she do? Instead of understanding, he broke up with her.

She was sad, but knew it was for the best. Liza didn’t love him. Sometimes she wondered if she would ever love anyone in the way she was meant to. Something always stopped her from getting too close. She often thought that perhaps she was just not made for love. Her heart never opened; she never let the person in; she never could, though she didn’t know why.

On good days, she told herself she was waiting for the right person. On her bad days she accepted she’d likely spend her life alone.

She stopped at a crossroads. The roads were deserted. It was a terrible night to be out and she seemed to be the only one who was. The rain was dumping down.

Liza pulled out her map to see which way she should go. When she looked up, she was surprised to see a woman standing in the headlights. She was soaked, wearing only a thin dress, no jacket, no hat.

Liza rolled down the window to call to her. When she looked again, the woman was gone. Liza looked behind her, but there was no-one. Where had she gone? Where had she come from? Liza hoped she’d be okay. This was no night to be out alone.

***

Tell us what you think: Why would a woman be out in the dark and rain like this, alone?