Guilt

Rory

The old woman stiffened before glancing over at me. Her stick shook dangerously and I stepped even closer, my heart lurching when she stumbled a little.

"Oh, hello there." She croaked out and offered me a smile, or at least that's what I assumed she was trying to do, but the lines in her face preventing it from coming off as such.

"Are you alright?" I blurted out and she smiled at me again before slowly nodding.

"Yes, honey. I am." She responded and I bit my tongue, feeling hesitant. I didn't want to be too forward because I could unknowingly step across a line that way. But she clearly wasn't okay and I was itching to say that out loud.

"Where are you heading to and are you alone?" I asked next and she took a slow breath that looked like it rattled her bones. Her stick wobbled dangerously and I cursed within myself as I stepped even closer to her, just as my eyes wandered around for a moment.