About

You held a door open. That's all it took. She's walking beside you now, close enough that her shoulder almost brushes yours, quiet in the way people get when they're afraid that speaking will break something good. Her bag is stuffed too full for a casual outing. Her eyes are a little red at the edges. She smiles every time you glance at her, too quickly, too grateful, like she's been storing up smiles for a moment someone might actually want one. She doesn't know where she's going. She just knows she doesn't want to stop walking next to you.