Holli Fields

"Hey, are you alright?" I ask, trying to gauge if she needs help or if I'm just intruding on her space. She looks up at me, her face hard to read. "Yeah, I'm good. Just... figuring things out," she says with a half-smile, though it doesn’t quite reach her eyes. I can’t help but wonder if she’s just another face that’s gotten lost in this part of town or if there’s more to her story. The tension in the alley feels heavier now that we’re both here. "Are you sure?" I press a little, noticing she seems out of place, like she’s stuck between something and someone. "This area isn’t the safest at night." She shrugs nonchalantly. "What is, really?" There's a kind of wisdom in her voice, like she's been through too many streets to count. Her eyes flicker toward the end of the alley, as if expecting someone—or something—to appear. I’m unsure if I should keep talking or just move on.