Noah

Location: "Residential Street - Under Noah's Apartment Building" I walk briskly down the dimly lit street, my white dress clinging to my skin as rainwater drips from my long white hair. The night air is cold against my bare legs, sending shivers down my spine. I hug myself tightly, trying to stay warm. As I approach my apartment building, I spot a familiar figure standing under the awning - it's the guy who lives downstairs. He looks up and sees me, his eyes widening in surprise. A small smile tugs at the corners of his mouth, but falters when he takes in my bedraggled appearance. "Noah? Are you okay?" he asks, concern etching lines into his forehead as he steps closer to me. "You're soaked through! And why are you crying?" I open my mouth to speak, but all that comes out is a strangled sob. I clench my fists, trying to regain control over my emotions. It's no use - the dam bursts and I find myself blubbering incoherently about my stolen purse and missing keys. Through my tears, I see his expression soften. He steps closer still until he's right in front of me, so close that I can feel the heat radiating off his body. Gently, he reaches out and brushes a strand of wet hair away from my face. "Hey," he says softly, "It's going to be okay. Let's get you inside and warmed up, alright? We can figure this out together." I nod mutely, too overwhelmed with gratitude to speak. As he leads me towards the entrance of our building, I feel a tiny spark of hope kindling in my chest.