[ WP ] A relatively unsuccessful yet passionate private investigator , you live your live meagerly , working each case tirelessly . One day , while investigating your newest job , a stranger walks up to you and thanks you by name before throwing themselves into traffic .

Pissed off spouses, missing persons that will never be found, and clients that pay me in food. That was my life. How could anyone be so apathetic that they do n't even care that their life is in shambles. 
 
 It was a day like any other, I worked until five. Closed my door, and headed down the stairs. Rush hour! What a shitty time to go home. But then, that pretty much summed up my whole life. Shitty. It was a shitty life, in a shitty city, full of shitty people, and I was no better. My office was in the worst place possible, right next to the freeway. Damn lousy smog. Just like me though, no one really cared. 
 
 I was walking down the sidewalk. Trying like hell to block out the horns of the cars, the screech of brakes, and the inevitable crash. That's why I did n't hear her at first. Had a soft spot for dames. All my work for cheating spouses were dames. It's the only reason I still did that kind of thing. 
 
 When she finally got my attention, I looked up into the prettiest eyes I'd ever seen in my life. She reached up, touched the side of my face, and uttered the sentence I'll never forget. 
 
 `` Mr. Barry Nance,'' I could tell she knew me, but there was no way I'd forget eyes like that. `` I wanted to say thank you. Thank you for everything.'' It was then she ran away, jumped over the cement guard rail, and jumped smack in front of a semi. Brakes squealed, more crashes, and then everything went silent. I knew there was sound, but somehow none of it hit my ears. 
 
 I do n't know how long I stood there. Cops must a thought I was just watching like everyone else. When I eventually came back to myself the crash was gone, along with every trace. I must of been standing there for hours. I only knew it was dark. I slept in a fit all night. I could n't get her off my mind. 
 
 Next morning, with bags under my eyes, I went to the cop shop. No one knew anything. I went to the morgue. Jane Doe they said. I started investigating, nothing. I beat the streets every day. Nothing. Everywhere I went, nothing. It was like she was a ghost. Soon enough my clients all fired me and dried up. I did n't care anymore. I was too busy tracking this girl down. 
 
 That's where I was that day, tracking down the only lead I found. A first name. It was idiotic, but I took the phone book. I visited everyone with that first name or anything like it. You got any idea how many Felicia's there are in a city phone book? I did, but I looked anyway. 
 
 Day after day, I visited people. My sanity half gone now, I did n't know what to do. Finally, pay dirt. In a quiet little neighborhood full of little old ladies and run down houses, I found evidence. Actual proof. A little old lady, with coke bottle glasses, and a hunger to talk to anyone. She'd been alone for a long time. She had to be ninety. Said her name was Fae, I though it might possibly be short for Felecia. 
 
 We talked for a time, and I figured it was going no where. She talked about a wonderful life full of kids and grand kids. They visited her often in her life. I thought this was off, because I was sure no one had visited this little house or her in a long time. We finally got around to it. Was her name short for Felecia? Her eyes got kinda big, and she looked at me. Really looked at me. Then she showed me a picture. 
 
 It was her, I'd remember those eyes anywhere. 
 
 She told me about her sister who'd died when she was ten. Saved her from some big accident. She was going over a cliff, her sister grabbed her and saved her. She smiled, it was a smile one puts on for a child. A smile like they knew something about you that you did n't or could n't, comprehend. She shooed me out, refusing to answer any more questions. However, as I left, I could a sworn she said thank you. I turned my head, but the door was closed. 
 
 How did I see some lady who died eighty years ago. The only thought that made sense was that maybe the old lady, or her sister had kids or grand kids. One that looked just like her. 
 
 I was trying to piece it together in my head, and did n't see anything around me. I heard a car horn beep, and I looked up. Suddenly all around me the houses were all in pristine condition. Cars from the 30's and 40's were driving around. It was the most surreal dream I'd ever had. 
 
 That was when she ran by me. It was her, I could tell. She was running with a little girl. I called out for them to stop, but they did n't hear me. So I took off after em. They started following railroad tracks. I was still running, and calling after them. It was n't that they did n't hear me, I felt like they could n't hear me. 
 
 They were running across a bridge now. I heard a train whistle, and my blood ran cold. They were never going to make it. I ran faster than ever, and caught up with them about the same time as the train. The river bed was dry under the bridge, but I only had one chance. I grabbed em both, and jumped. I pulled them both on top of me, hoping I could shield them with my body when we landed. 
 
 We hit, hard. I knew it was the end for me, but I could feel movement on top of me. The little girl was all right. She got up, and looked down with tears in her eyes. 
 
 `` Felicia no. No it's my fault Felicia, I wanted to cross the bridge not you.'' Her tiny little body would n't stop shaking. I was just glad she was alive. I looked to the other girl. Blood drained down her chin from her mouth. 
 
 `` Wha... what's you name mister?'' I could tell it was all she could do to talk. She was dying. 
 
 But then, so was I. 
 
 `` Barry Nance, ma'am.'' 
 
 `` Mr. Barry Nance, I wanted to say thank you. Thank you for everything.'' 
 
 Then she died. Her sister began to cry, and then wail. I listened to it for a time, then looked up. `` Fae?'' 
 
 She sniffled, `` How do you know my name mister?'' 
 
 `` Fae, listen close. You'll see me again some day. We'll have a nice little chat about your big sister who saved you. I want you to know something though.'' She'd stopped crying by now. `` I want you to live a long life without regret, and know that it was a pleasure to help you out. Your sister loved you, never... forget... that.'' 
 
 The lady with the unforgettable eyes thanked me like she knew me. I guess I really did know her.
