"Miss? What's wrong?" Concern clawed at me, and I took a tentative step forward, desperate to help. But in an instant, my movement made her shriek, freezing me in place.
"No, stop it! Don't touch me!! No!! M-Move away!" she shouted, and a wave of despair washed over me.
I didn't know what to do. The wavering intensity in her voice pierced my heart.
"Ugh, ugh, please, so leave me alone," she sobbed, her voice fading into the night. Between her disheveled bangs, her eyes appeared wide and terrified, tears streaming down her cheeks, soaking the concrete beneath her.
In that moment, it was as though a dark veil lifted to reveal her face, raw with emotion. The agony and sorrow that overwhelmed her struck me with a crushing weight. There was no way she could possibly present this kind of brokenness without serious cause.
Frozen in place, I watched as she crumpled to the ground, sobs racking her body, nails digging into her head as if holding onto reality would stave off the pain.
