“Hey… are you okay?” The woman looked up, startled. For a moment, it seemed like she might brush it off. “I… I don’t know,” she admitted finally. Her voice wavered. Then, after a pause, she added softly, “I’m Sienna. This is my daughter.” Up close, it was even clearer. She looked exhausted.
Not just tired — worn down in a way that didn’t come from a single bad day. There were dark circles under her eyes, and her grip on the child was tight, almost protective. Between pauses and careful words, she explained enough for Altha to understand. She had left a bad situation.
Someone was supposed to meet her. Help her. But they never showed. Now she had no place to go. No one to call.