And then she spoke.
Not loud. Not dramatic. Just three small words, barely more than a breath.
“Please help me.”
Tim froze.
He wasn’t even sure he’d heard it at first. He caught her reflection in the mirror—her lips hardly moved. Her eyes stayed fixed on the floor. The man didn’t notice. No one else reacted.
But Tim had heard. And suddenly, the world slowed.
The words echoed in his mind, rearranging everything he thought he understood about this morning. This wasn’t a routine ride. This wasn’t a child simply shy or tired.
