I stepped out of the cozy coffee shop, the warmth of the café still lingering in my body, and I opened up my umbrella with a soft snap, holding it high above my head to shield myself from the torrential downpour. As I walked, the rhythmic patter of the rain on the umbrella became the backdrop to the world around me. The streets were slick, reflecting the occasional car headlights, and the gray clouds loomed heavy in the sky. My eyes moved over the scene—people rushing by, some with their hoods pulled tightly over their heads, others darting for cover under awnings.

That’s when I noticed her.

A girl, sitting alone on a bench under the rain, trembling uncontrollably. Her arms were wrapped around herself, trying to hold her body together against the cold, but it was clear that she wasn’t just shivering from the weather. She looked utterly helpless, her face pale and streaked with tears, her shoulders shaking as if she couldn't stop.

Concern surged through me. Without thinking, I broke into a run, the sound of my footsteps muffled by the rain-soaked ground. I reached her, my heart racing, and held the umbrella out, sheltering her from the downpour.

"Hey!! You should've brought an umbrella!" I shouted over the relentless noise of the rain splattering on the pavement. My voice felt too loud in contrast to the quiet vulnerability she exuded.

She looked up at me then, her tear-streaked face meeting my gaze, and my stomach dropped. Her eyes were wide with surprise, but more than that, they were full of pain. I barely registered the sight before the words rushed out. "Oh my god, is everything okay?!"

Her breath caught, and she looked down again, the rain mixing with her tears as she wiped her face, but the sadness in her eyes didn't fade. Something inside me ached for her.