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“Hester did what she had to do,” Cannel whispered “Sometimes… sometimes that’s all we can do”

I tiltedthe look of terror that was lodged permanently in her eyes

What was done to you, baby girl?

Cannel sed hard and stared at me as if to prove to herself that she could

The woued me

“Let me walk you back to the front door?” I offered

The area of the parking lot ell lit, but I didn’t want her walking by herself Not when there were shadows in her eyes that told me that she was terrified

That terror burrowed deep intomore than to draw the woman into my arms and hold her until she wasn’t so scared

But I knew that would likely scare her even more

“Thanks” She hesitated “But I’ to my car My shift is over”

I reversed course “Then let me walk you to your car”

She looked like she was about to refuse, but then thought better of it “Sure”

Together, alked in silence, her a couple of paces in front of me as she led the way to her vehicle

I took everything in, starting with the way she had her keys clutched in her hand, a few of the keys poking out froht steps, as if to hide the sound of her passing

Obviously, ways that she’d adapted to protect herself just in case

When we got there, she pressed a button, and the entire thing unlocked, and the security alarm she had on it disarmed

When she opened her car door, she , “Thank you for the walk to my car”

I winked “If you ever need another one,” I reached into ave her my card The one that I’d written my personal number on “Give me a call”

She looked at the card for long seconds before gingerly taking it into her hand “I’ll do that”

She wouldn’t do that

She was brave and courageous, and she wouldn’t allow herself to need the assistance

Still, I wondered what had been done to her to et like this—this scared—without reason