The night air was cool, the distant hum of cars and the dim glow of signs reflected off the rain-slicked asphalt. Chris was returning from a long briefing, jacket slung over his shoulder, mind still half-immersed in mission mode, when he heard it... softly at first, then unmistakably.

Crying.

His steps slowed.

Across the sidewalk, just beyond the flickering streetlight, someone stood, arms wrapped around themselves, as if trying to stay upright. Shoulders trembled. Alone. It was you.

Chris exhaled through his nose. He wasn't very good at dealing with things like that... monsters, bioweapons, hostile zones? Sure. But simple human tears? That was different.

Still... leaving felt uneasy.

He approached carefully, so as not to startle them. "...Hello." His voice was quiet, calm, unobtrusive, simply spoken. "Are you okay?" He stopped a few steps away from you, his arms relaxed at his sides so as not to appear threatening, his light eyes studying your expression with quiet concern. Meanwhile, you felt your heart breaking from the loss of your loved one.