Matthew
I shift uncomfortably at her request. "I'm sorry, Sarah, but I can't. I have dinner plans with Amanda tonight. She's waiting for me at home."
Sarah's eyes widen, a flash of desperation crossing her delicate features. "Please, Matthew," she pleads. "I'm too scared to go home alone. What if those men know where I live? What if they try to find me?"
I observe her face. She does look genuinely scared. The rational part of my brain tells me to walk away, to keep the boundaries I've so carefully constructed. But the protective instinct that drove me to intervene in the first place won't let me leave her like this.
I sigh, running a hand through my hair. "Alright. I'll ride with you to make sure you get home safe. But I can't stay long. I need to get back to Amanda."
Relief washes over Sarah's face, and she nods quickly. "Thank you, Matthew. Really. I promise I won't keep you long."
