"The Headless Hawk" is a labyrinthine narrative that intricately weaves through Vincent Waters' turbulent emotional landscape. Flashbacks unveil his enigmatic relationship with a mysterious young woman, while the conclusion circles back to an unresolved present. Vincent's journey is marked by an unsettling sense of disorientation and existential malaise.

Initial Encounter

The story opens with a bewildering encounter. Vincent Waters, a man teetering on the edge of mental dissolution, returns to his apartment one sweltering July evening. He becomes aware of an unusual girl, who seems to be consistently on his trail. Their interactions are wordless, yet they follow a strange choreography: she walks and he follows, she halts and he approaches, before he leads with her trailing behind, continuing this silent pursuit until Vincent reaches his apartment. There she remains, lingering outside, perpetually waiting.

A Flashback to Winter

The narrative shifts to the prior winter, when Vincent first meets this unique girl. She visits his art gallery, dressed in an eccentric manner, with a peculiar haircut and striking eyes, presenting him with an unsettling self-portrait. The painting features her severed head lying beside her body, with a headless hawk looming in the background. During this meeting, Vincent learns snippets about her, including the enigmatic name "Mr. Destronelli," which will soon become significantly relevant to him. Despite these exchanges, she remains aloof and distant.

The Allure of the Painting

Captivated by the artwork's haunting intensity and sensing a deep resonance with it, Vincent decides to purchase the painting. He is equally drawn to the mysterious girl herself, yet he's aware of his tendency to fall for odd characters fleetingly. He predicts that the very eccentricity that captivates him will eventually repel him.

A Vanishing Act

Vincent’s ruminations are interrupted by a phone call, and when he returns, the girl has vanished, leaving only her initials, D. J., and a cryptic address at the YWCA. This scant information makes it impossible for Vincent to track her down. Left alone, he spends solitary nights engaging in one-sided conversations with the painting, articulating his feelings of inadequacy and unfulfillment.

Reunion and Romance

Several months of turbulent emotions pass before Vincent unexpectedly reunites with D. J. on an April evening in New York City. Initially apprehensive, she soon agrees to accompany him home. As they become lovers, D. J. gradually reveals fragments of her past, consistently mentioning the elusive Mr. Destronelli. Vincent’s curiosity about Destronelli goes unanswered, with D. J. cryptically describing him as a man who is a reflection of everyone.

The Collapse of the Affair

Their affair culminates after a month, following D. J.'s birthday celebration. That night, Vincent is haunted by a disconcerting dream. In this dream, he finds himself at a party, burdened by an unsavory alter ego, an old man whose presence he cannot escape. Former lovers he has wronged appear in this vision, and as he dances with D. J., he drifts away from her. The climax of the dream arrives when he is besieged by the headless hawk, released by a grotesque host. This surreal confrontation solidifies his belief that love and liberation are beyond his grasp.

Awakening to Reality

Upon waking, Vincent discovers D. J. in the overgrown garden, her erratic behavior causing him to question her mental stability. This suspicion instantly erodes his love for her. Physically and emotionally unwell, Vincent destroys her painting the following day and places her belongings outside his door, effectively severing their connection.

Return to the Present

The narrative loops back to the present, concluding with a poignant, rain-drenched scene outside Vincent's apartment building. Racked with uncertainty and illness, Vincent stands momentarily against a lamppost. As the anticipated rain finally falls and others retreat indoors, D.J. approaches him once more, wordlessly waiting in the rain-soaked silence.