She couldn't be mistaken; the person who had embraced her in that critical moment must have been Steve Burton.
She had memorized his scent when they were young. Often, she didn't need to see who was approaching; she could tell it was him by that delicate fragrance alone.
But how could he have appeared so coincidentally by her side at such a dangerous moment? Why did he save her, only to vanish without a word?
Ruby Gregory took a few steps, paused again, and took a couple more glances down the quiet alleyway before silently walking out of it and back to her neighborhood.
A while after Ruby had left, a door in the alley finally opened, and Steve Burton stepped out. His gait seemed no different from any other day, albeit a tad slower. In particular, his left leg, which had been hit, appeared to give him some trouble as he walked.
Steve exited the alley, glanced in the direction of Ruby's neighborhood, and turned to walk the other way.
