Chapter 5: A New World, A New Purpose
She wondered what year it was, but it must've been more than half a century before she was born. She used to wish she could go back in time and see how things were, how they moved forward, and how she knew them to be. Back at home, she would read Felix tales taking place in different spaces and times, he would ask her to travel the world together when they grow older. She had promised they would go together.
There was a lump in her throat. Or a thousand.
No. She had to pull her shit together.
Apart from the people, instead of the cars she knew from back home, what looked like the first editions of cars lined up the streets. There were a few clothing stores and what she guessed were groceries.
'This must be New York', she thought, because of the tall buildings. Even from where she stood, she could see the Empire State Building. It looked all the same as the photos she had seen except that it was probably under some sort of construction.
"Look at me, being in New York, walking like everything is okay when I'm not even able to fully recognize myself in a mirror right now.", Annie murmured to herself sarcastically.
She carried on walking and didn't stop for a while. Walking helped make her brain turn silent. Shut out all of the voices. She didn't know where she was going, she had to be careful to not get lost.
She didn't know how much time had passed since she started walking into the city. Without a watch, she had to guess from the position of the sun in the sky. It was almost sunset.
She had to get back to the bakery before it got dark, otherwise, she would be stuck here for the whole night and Mr. Kowalski might get worried. But first, she needed to take a 5-minute break, preferably sitting somewhere. Just when she started to worry about finding a resting place, she came upon a big park. She could see benches under the tree and that was her cue.
Now sitting, she closed her eyes and allowed herself to breathe. Sometimes she thought that if she exhausted herself more than her body would be able to bear, she wouldn't have enough air, and by not having enough air, she would leave this world. Easily. and, she would be back. Back to her family. It was definitely easier than staying here and trying to pretend she wouldn't be a shadow of her old self for the rest of her life. It was the easiest thing to do.
But what about the right thing?
She sighed with despair and got up.
Surprisingly, it was easy to find her way back. As if her body remembered where it moved, where her feet were taking her.
As soon as she reached the bakery, Kowalski ran out and shouted with his voice filled with worry, "Annie! Where were you?! You got us all worried and heated over here."
Annie smiled, seeing him worried. Maybe having people worry about her well-being made this world a tiny bit better. And, a tiny bit harder to leave.
"I just went for a walk. It had been long since I last stepped foot outside" she replied, looking towards Queenie, who came out of the bakery behind Kowalski, with a guilty smile.
Queenie looked back and shrugged her shoulders, "Since you're here already, there's no point in worrying. Just.." She smiled at her with a motherly expression and continued, "Don't go out without telling us first. We were worried you were going to get lost."
"I promise to not do that anymore. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that.", Annie replied sincerely.
Queenie moved her hand and held Annie's hand tenderly, "Now, come inside. There's tea and your favorite niffler pastries."
"Thank you", Annie said while smiling at Queenie.
Around the dining table, drinking her tea, Annie looked at Jacob who was devouring Queenie's dishes eagerly and confessed, "I never thanked both of you for what you did for me. Taking me in, feeding me, leaving me alone cause you knew I didn't want to talk. It was mean and selfish of me, but you didn't change your behavior towards me."
"Nothing to thank us for. We're all here to help you. We knew it would take time for you to get better." He looked at her as if he knew about her thoughts earlier and nodded.
"So, just smile and eat up." He smiled and winked.
1 Hour Later
Lying in bed, Annie felt... lighter.
DONG GONG
All of a sudden Teddy appeared on top of her stomach and turned his head towards the exit and blinked twice.
"What trick have you gotten up your sleeve now, huh?", Annie asked Teddy and patted its head lovingly.
The niffler bowed theatrically and started running back, his little pawns taking big steps. Getting up, Annie took her coat from earlier from the drawer and put on her slippers.
She walked to the exit, thinking, 'What does this little fella want to show me?'
Teddy didn't want to show her anything. Someone else did.
Newt Scamander stood on the other side of the door with a very familiar suitcase in his hand.
He smiled slightly and said, "Hello, Annie. Hmm. I came here tonight because I have a proposition for you."
Annie just stared blankly back and Newt carried on, "It is obvious by now that you have a special connection with Teddy, which according to me means any other magical beast. So, I was thinking, do you want to work with me down there?"
His finger pointed at the suitcase.
Surprised, she asked, "Why are you making this proposition to me? There surely are more capable people for taking care of those precious beings like me."
Newt laughed a little awkwardly and replied, "That may be possible, but you are different. I think you have it in you to be with those creatures as much as I do."
He paused for a few seconds and said, "A-As a matter of fact, you remind me of myself when I was your age."
Annie blinked twice. That was enough of an explanation for her.
Okay, then.
"I'm all yours."