<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A lone silhouette approaches in the flickering lamplight, a petite, feminine form, skirts flowing in the breeze and high heels echoing across the cobblestone street \u2014 click-clack, click-clack. I step out of the shadows into her path. \u201cOh, my!\u201d she gasps, clutching her hands over her heart. Her eyes widen with recognition, and I recognize her. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGood doctor, you startled me near to death,\u201d she says, her voice trembling with what I sense is a mix of fear and relief. \u201cBut I\u2019m glad it\u2019s you and not some fellow with nefarious intent. What are you doing out so late in the evening, sir?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI might ask the same of you,\u201d I reply. \u201cIt is not safe for a young lady to be out alone on such a dark night as this. Is Mr. Welton not at home tonight?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe has taken ill with a terrible croup, and I am on my way to the apothecary to seek a remedy \u2014 some elixir or tincture for his relief. I did not want to walk alone without an escort, but I had little choice, and I must return quickly.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI understand,\u201d I say. \u201cHow may I be of service to you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMost kind sir, I would feel more safe if you could accompany me to the apothecary and back home again. She lowers her eyes for a moment, as though debating whether to ask, then continues: \u201cAnd if it be no great inconvenience doctor, may you consider examining my husband yourself to verify his condition?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy highest pleasure, young lady, and a prudent request. There are indeed many unsavory characters roaming the night, and I promise to take good care of you.\u201d I give her a reassuring smile in the dim light. \u201cAnd yes, I can examine your husband to provide a prognosis of his ailment when we return to your home.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThank you, Doctor, I would like that very much,\u201d she says, returning my smile. \u201cWe must make haste, as my husband eagerly awaits my return.\u201d I crook my arm; she tucks her arm into mine, and I walk with her into the shadows of the night. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I promised to take care of her, and I will \u2014 in a way she will least expect. As she will soon learn, she will not make it back to her husband tonight. Because tonight, I am not Dr. Jekyll. I am Mr. Hyde.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A lone silhouette approaches in the flickering lamplight, a petite, feminine form, skirts flowing in the breeze and high heels echoing across the cobblestone street \u2014 click-clack, click-clack. I step out of the shadows into her path. \u201cOh, my!\u201d she gasps, clutching her hands over her heart. Her eyes widen with recognition, and I recognize […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2755,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[21,22],"tags":[16],"class_list":["post-2754","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-horror","category-mystery-suspense","tag-flash-fiction"],"blocksy_meta":{"styles_descriptor":{"styles":{"desktop":"","tablet":"","mobile":""},"google_fonts":[],"version":7}},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/twistytales.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/But_Im_Glad_Its_You.jpeg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/twistytales.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2754","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/twistytales.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/twistytales.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/twistytales.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/twistytales.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2754"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/twistytales.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2754\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4130,"href":"https:\/\/twistytales.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2754\/revisions\/4130"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/twistytales.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2755"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/twistytales.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2754"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/twistytales.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2754"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/twistytales.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2754"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}