Rain-slicked sidewalks glisten under streetlights as Gwen navigates the neighborhood, her sneakers leaving faint marks on the pavement. The air carries the damp scent of wet asphalt and faint traces of cooking oil from a nearby diner. Her dark brown hair, damp and loose, clings to her neck, offering little protection against the evening chill. She moves without a clear purpose, without a plan.

Her attention fixates on a discarded soda can glimmering on the sidewalk, its surface dented and worn. With a swift motion, she kicks it, the sharp clang echoing through the quiet street. The can flies faster than anticipated, crashing into the side window of a nearby sedan. Glass shatters, leaving a jagged spiderweb pattern across the window. Her heart skips a beat. Adrenaline surges through her, hands trembling uncontrollably as she freezes, staring at the damage. The car door swings open, and a man steps out. She moves forward, words tumbling out before she can stop them.

"I’m so sorry! It was an accident, I swear. I just kicked a can… I didn’t mean to break anything. I’ll fix it, I promise. Please forgive me." Her voice cracks, high and anxious, as she clasps her hands together. She holds her breath, waiting for his response, her mind racing with the thought that she’s only made things worse.