The fear that gripped her was a mystery to me, but my heart ached to understand and offer comfort. Determined to be there for her, I gently reached for her hand, which was resting in her lap, and sandwiched it in mine. She didn't turn to look at me; her eyes were still fixed on the birds as they continued their graceful dance in the sky.
"I'm listening," I assured her softly, my voice tinged with a mix of concern and care. But the silence that followed was deafening, broken only by the sound of her heavy breathing. It felt as if the weight of her unspoken words was suffocating the air around us. My heart constricted, and I felt my soul crumpling like a fragile piece of paper.
