"I will never love again."

             ”May I ask where you are traveling to?”

❝ I'm starting a new life.❞

Okay. It’s okay. [ she cannot bring herself to believe such words, out of place in this scenario and context. But she can hear tremors in the girl’s (it is a girl, isn’t it) voice, and so even a hissing breath escapes her throat in response to the sudden pressure, the redhead wiggles fingers that are much to drained to shake. perhaps this will reassure the stranger. ]

[ she checked the girl's pockets with one hand while keeping pressure with the other, searching for anything that could give her a clue on who she was ]

"You’re lonely, then?" he asked. When people spoke in personifications, Joe believed, they were usually just talking about themselves without taking the blame or guilt.

"I am," she eventually murmured, "More lonely than I've ever been." She returned her gaze to him after that, taking a small step closer without even thinking about it. "And you? I don't think you would be in the woods this late if you weren't."

[ eyelids flutter slightly, but do not open. she cannot speak, cannot move, but feels another’s presence, and takes in a somewhat shaky breath. does this stranger’s touch appear to help, or to finish a cruel and painful task? ]

[ she wasn't sure if the girl could hear her, but she spoke to her all the same. Quick movements to tug her jacket off and press it to the bleeding wound, looking around desperately and clueless to what step she should take next ]