"How's your head? Did the medicine kick in yet?" Mary rounded the coffee table to sit next to him on the couch, interested to see if he'd notice his quick recovery and added strength.
Joe stood, feeling better than he had in a long time. The pounding in his head was a distant memory, and it felt like energy was coursing through his body, making him want to run around the block or do jumping jacks or something! "Uh, yeah, I'm actually feeling much better! I guess I really did just need to get out of the sun and sit down for a few minutes." At the sound of an engine starting up and moving away, he walked to the front window to look out, seeing the tow truck leaving with his car. "I guess I'll have a to figure out a ride home since I don't really need to go to the hospital anymore. Is your sister around? I'd like to thank her as well for letting me in."
Mary looked at her hands, taking a deep breath before risking it all by telling this stranger the truth. "Well, about that... you see, I don't actually have a sister..."
"But who was that who came to the door and let me in? Is there someone else here?" Joe was puzzled. Mary was not stick-thin, but the lady who'd answered the door had definitely had a good 70-100lbs on her.
"There's no one else here, I promise." Mary stood, gripping the back of the couch for support. "That was actually me that answered your knock, I just... looked a little different at the time. I can explain though, or rather, show you, I guess."
"What are you talking about? Like, you were wearing a disguise or something? But we'd just met outside..."
"You caught me at an awkward moment, Joe. I'd just received a strange box in the mail, filled with hundreds of different Vials and I'd just decided to test one out when you literally crashed into my life! Remember when you first saw me and asked if *I* was okay?" Mary was in the thick of it now. "Well, the vials, they're magical, Joe! I'd just drank half of the liquid in one and it was beginning to change me right when we met!"
Joe scoffed. "Okay, lady, I ... I'm not sure what you're on about, but..."
"No! Honestly, Joe! Don't you wonder how you went from being stretched out on my couch with a debilitating headache to totally fine within minutes?! Aren't you feeling stronger than ever before?"
"Did you GIVE me something from this box?" Joe was backing towards the door now. "Some sort of drug?!"
"Wait! I... I did, but just a healing potion, and look! It totally worked! You might have had a brain bleed or concussion from the crash for all we know, but now you're fine!" Mary was worried Joe would run out of the house, and she really wanted someone to believe her, maybe to help her further believe what seemed impossible. "I can prove it's real, just wait a moment! Look in the mirror by the door - do you look any different than you did before?"
Joe glanced to the small mirror over the entryway table, not immediately noticing any changes to his appearance. Crossing his arms over his chest, he turned back to his host. "Listen, Mary, I'm sorry again about the tree, and thanks for letting me rest for a few minutes, but I think I ought to be going now..."
"I promise I'm not crazy, Joe. Seriously, just give me five more minutes and I swear you'll believe me! I'll take one of the vials again and you'll see what I'm talking about." She started to walk towards her bedroom.
Joe wasn't sure what the believe, but he was starting to be intrigued by Mary's insistence. And he really did feel amazing when he'd never recovered from even a normal headache that quickly... "Alright, I'll give you five minutes, but I'm coming back there with you. How do I know you're not grabbing a weapon or something from the other room?"
"Here, look!" Mary lead him into her bedroom and presented the box on her dresser, showing him the marked vials with their magical liquid inside. "Now, which one should I choose to prove it to you?"