For as long as I remember Lady Agnes, our old neighbor did not look her age.

That wasn’t to say she didn’t look old she definitely passes for a woman in her 70s but like a chic modern 70s that could still put effort in their looks and aren’t run down by arthritis. When I was a kid the first time I saw her she was wearing a ball gown and that red fabric around her wrist.

Like most people I could only stare. Maybe she was going to a wedding which is why she looked like that. My mom always made me dress up in poofy dresses for weddings. They always happened to itch so I never liked them much. Lady Agnes smiled at me and my mom as we both stared and went on her way with the most gorgeous umbrella. It had a gold handle and the design up top was complementary to her gown with intricately mashed together.

“She must be really narcissistic to keep that up at her age. I gave up on my looks when I had you.” Mom commented.

Being the kid I am, I looked up and said. “But mommy you look pretty too.” My mom melted and took me to the snack shop nearby where they served milkshakes and ice cream which was the goal all along. I always knew what to say to benefit myself even at that age.

So for the coming days I made it my mission to be friends with Lady Agnes. When we both came out of our respective doors at the same time, I had the courage to ask. “Whats your name, uhm, lady?” I forgot the word maam for a moment. Stupid.

“Its Agnes, child.” Today she she wore a gold metallic skirt with a black top. There happened to be a headband that looked like a crown atop her white hair. Like yesterday that red fabric was on her wrist.

“Lady Agnes.” I said in my most respectful voice.

“I’m not royalty. There’s no need to put in Lady.” She let out a kind smile.

“Well you look like a queen, though.” I wonder if I could borrow her headband.

“My aren’t you sweet.” The way the light reflected off those metallic pants reminded me of a disco ball.

“Whats that on your wrist?” I asked letting the curiosity get ahead of me.

“You’ll know in time, dear.” Then she went on her way.

“What time though?” I asked behind her, debating if I should chase after her.

Later on Mom would scold me for bothering her. She talked with other tenants in the building and apparently Lady Agnes is the ultimate loner. She doesn’t have any relatives or husband so she lives alone. Apparently there must be something wrong with her to live alone at that age.

Other tenants tried to get close to her and find out why she’s the way she is but she simply is just a woman who wears ridiculous outfits everyday and goes on walks.

“That scarf on her wrist must be hiding something too. Her outfits look too put together for a random scarf just tied on her wrist like that.” Mom theorized.

“She told me I’d know in time.” I replied, my mouth still chewing on breakfast.

“Cherry, don’t bother her. She probably has a lot going on that we don’t know about.”

And we will continue to not know about for the years to come.

I always made it a point to greet Lady Agnes to which she’d smile at me for. Not one day did that scarf go untied on her wrist. Not one day did my time come to know why.

Except today.

Prom has arrived and my dress is ripped. Whilst I was getting ready at my best friend’s house, Macbeth’s I saw her phone. The lockscreen was her and my boyfriend, hugging.

And I know it was recent too cause the asshole had the audacity to be wearing the sweater I gifted him while cheating with her.

For however long the rips in my dress has become, it didn’t compare to the shredder I put Macbeth’s in. She can’t get her deposit back now from the dress shop nor can she go to prom with a bald spot on her head.

All my doing of course. I wasn’t going to take betrayal elegantly.

As I arrived at my building, I heard a familiar small voice behind me.

“What rabid cat got you, my dear?” Lady Agnes asked looking up and down at me in horror.

“A whore.” I replied.

“Today’s prom isn’t it? Shame if you go like that.”

“I can’t go. My date’s been stolen without me knowing.”

“Who’s to say you can’t get another date? Come with me. I know just the dress, come with me.”

This may be the first time in history of my 12 years living here that Lady Agnes went out of her way to interact with me.

Once she got me into her apartment, I understood why she dressed the way she does. Her collection was amazing and it took up most of her apartment or more appropriately her boutique.

I wasn’t even a person when I came in but a mannequin that tried dress after dress until we arrived at a metallic dress that not only moved like water but hugged my body in a way that made me look like I owned water.

“Wow.” I said moving side to side in front of the mirror.

“Your welcome.” Lady Agnes said taking a seat in her couch. “With that dress not only will you find a date but maybe even a husband though don’t say yes to the first always explore your options.”

I laughed. “I am sooo not finding any man tonight much less marry one. Did you find a husband in this dress?”

“No, but I did hook in a crazy one.”

“Can I ask if my time has come yet?” I stared at her scarf on the wrist.

“Pardon?”

“Your scarf you always wear it on your wrist.”

“Oh this.” Lady Agnes then untied the scarf.

I stood frozen.

Each unraveling of the tie made time go slower.

Does she have a scar she’s hiding?

Is my time to know why also my time to die cause no one else should know?

Damn, I watched too many spy movies.

Lady Agnes bared her scar free and normal wrist at me free from the permanent scarf.

“If you must know, during my time I worked as a seamstress and a revolutionary. Part of our uniforms and markers were red scarfs. Once traitors came in, we’d wear these on our wrists instead of our necks to signal we were part of the revolution and would like to help.” She folded the scarf neatly. “I still wear it like this til this day on the off chance some of us are still alive and we would recognize each other.”

“So that’s why you walk around all day.”

“I also still work as a seamstress, too.” Lady Agnes pinched my cheek. “Its insulting to me you didn’t come to me for your prom dress and went to a generic department store. I’ve dreamt of making a dress for you all these years.”

“Really why?” I asked looking at the pile of dresses that I passed on. Lady Agnes must have made them for me. They were all gorgeous but just not for me.

“You look like my friend during the revolutionary days.”

“What’s her name?”

“Ruth. She used to work in the same place I sewed at. Together we would finish garments and hide contraband underneath fabric supplies.”

“Weird I have a Grandma named Ruth.” I commented. What are the odds they are the same Ruth?

“Well I hope she’s well.” Lady Agnes said, giving the scarf to me.

I tied it around my wrist just like her.