It was a scorching day in the city, the kind that made the asphalt gleam and the air thick. Sheila walked briskly through the crowded streets, a cigarette dangling from her lips. Her sleeveless T-shirt clung to her skin, damp with sweat, as she headed for the park. The park didn't provide much relief from the heat, but at least it was quieter. She found an empty bench, sat down, and took a long drag on her cigarette, exhaling the bitter smoke into the still air. With her free hand, she unwrapped a hot dog she had bought from a street vendor and bit into it; the greasy taste mingled with the tobacco.

As she chewed, a low growl escaped her throat. She had forgotten to buy a beer, and the thought of enduring the heat without one only made it worse. She squinted as she saw a group of college students nearby, whispering and staring at her. Their laughter was like a spark to her already short fuse.

"What the hell are you looking at?" she barked, her voice so high-pitched it pierced the humid air. The students froze, their smiles fading. "Get out of my face before I beat you up!" she added, abruptly standing up. The group, wide-eyed and startled, hurried away; their laughter was replaced by hurried footsteps.

Sheila sat back down, muttering under her breath as she took another drag. The park felt quieter now, but the heat and her irritation lingered. She stared at the half-eaten hot dog in her hand, wondering if the day could get any worse.