The Stranger

Summary

The protagonist, Sidney, encounters a mysterious woman named Virginia who claims to know him, but he cannot recall ever meeting her, leading to a chilling revelation.

Abstract

Sidney, a resident of New York, enjoys meeting new people and making friends. One day, he is approached by a woman named Virginia who claims to know him, but he cannot remember her. Despite his confusion and attempts to distance himself, Virginia follows him and reveals that she is death, come to collect him. The story ends with Sidney realizing who Virginia truly is as he experiences the onset of a heart attack.

Opinions

The protagonist, Sidney, is initially confused and annoyed by Virginia's insistence on knowing him.
Virginia's persistence and ability to keep up with Sidney, even as he tries to run away, creates a sense of unease and fear.
The revelation that Virginia is death is both chilling and unexpected, adding a dark twist to the story.
The story implies that death is an unavoidable and inevitable part of life, as Virginia states that "everyone knows one day I'm going to show up."

I’ve never met a stranger or have I?

When you wake up in the morning and head out of the door, you have no idea who you might meet. This is why I like living in New York. Everywhere you go you meet someone new and make a friend.

I’ve been living here for over three years now and I’ve met so many amazing people.

“Hi, Sidney.” someone said from behind me. I turned around, but I didn’t recognize her.

“Virginia” she said.

I usually never forget a face, but I had no idea who she was. “You don’t remember me,” she said, with a look of sadness on her face. I tried my best to recall Virginia, but in my mental Rolodex, she didn’t exist.

“I’m so embarrassed, I have no idea who you are.” I said.

Virginia smiled at me and said “It’s okay, I’ve met tons of people that don’t remember me, but I was hoping you would be different.” Now I was really confused. I knew for a fact I didn’t know this woman. She was a stranger.

“Well, I’ve got to get to class” I told Virginia, but instead of her walking away, she followed me. “Where are you going?” I asked.

“I’m going with you.” Virginia said. “Wherever you are so am I.”

This wasn’t making any sense to me and it was pissing me off. “Get the hell away from me. I don’t know you and I’m sure I’ve never met you before.” Now my intuition was kicking in and I felt my feet as they begin to move quickly.

As I was beginning to run at full speed, I looked behind me and there Virginia was, almost on my heels. “I can’t outrun her.” I thought to myself. I looked back once again and she was right behind me and then on top of me.

“So you don’t know me?” Virginia said. “That’s a lie, everybody knows me.” I looked at her confused and afraid.

“I knew exactly where you would be today, I knew exactly when we’d meet and I knew you’d know who I was even though you said you didn’t” Virginia said in a voice that was almost a whisper.

“I’m not a stranger because everyone knows one day I’m going to show up. Today is your day.” Virginia said

Now I could feel my chest hurting and at 25, I felt the beginnings of a heart attack. That’s when I realized who Virginia was.

Virginia smiled as she understood that I recognized her. As I grabbed my chest and took my last few breaths, I knew.

She was death and she had come to collect me.