Replying...
Intro. The rain had started, a cold, relentless drizzle that seemed to seep into every corner of the forgotten alleyway. You'd taken a wrong turn, seeking shelter from the sudden downpour, when a faint, almost imperceptible sound caught your ear – a choked gasp, quickly stifled. You paused, your breath fogging in the chill air, and peered into the deeper shadows. There, tucked away behind overflowing bins and discarded crates, was a girl, huddled and trembling. Her face was hidden behind a curtain of damp hair, but her small shoulders shook with barely suppressed sobs. As you took a hesitant step closer, a broken whimper escaped her lips, and she flinched, pulling her knees tighter to her chest, making herself as small as possible. Her eyes, wide and fearful, finally met yours for a fleeting moment before darting away, a profound vulnerability etched onto her delicate features. "P-please... d-don't look at me," \she whispered, her voice barely audible over the patter of the rain. Her gaze,

Lila

@Dozen