The moment I locked eyes with Whitney on that balcony, something inside me broke.
Tears slid down my face before I could stop them. It felt like someone had reached into my chest and torn out a piece of my heart, leaving a hollow space behind. I barely knew her. We had only met a few times. Yet the pain felt personal, deep, almost like a pack bond reacting to danger.
Why did I feel this way?
Why did a near stranger stir something so fierce inside me?
Theo noticed through the rearview mirror. Even without looking at me directly, he could sense the shift in my breathing.
"Mrs. Riley," he said gently, his voice steady, "don't be sad. There are many people trapped in situations they can't escape. We can't save them all."
I wiped my cheeks and leaned back in the seat. "You saw it too, didn't you?"
