Verena stood on the side of the road, her heart pounding as she watched the car approach in the distance. She knew she had to act fast; her escape depended on it. The night was growing darker, and the stretch of road she was on was deserted—a perfect setting for the desperate play she was about to stage.
Taking a deep breath, she quickly surveyed her appearance. She had already been through enough for one night, but there was no time to dwell on the exhaustion weighing her down. With trembling hands, Verena unbuttoned the top few buttons of her shirt, letting it hang open just enough to catch the driver's attention. She tousled her hair, giving herself a slightly disheveled look, one that might evoke a sense of pity—or perhaps something more from whoever was behind the wheel.
