People stood with tired expressions after long workdays. Some stared down at their phones while scrolling without really paying attention. Others simply watched the street and waited for their ride to arrive. Emma had just finished work and was thinking about only one thing: getting home as quickly as possible, changing clothes, and falling asleep.
She never noticed the dog coming out of the alley nearby. The dog looked like a typical stray.
Its fur was tangled and dirty, its paws were covered with mud, and its body looked thin beneath its coat. It moved slowly through the crowd, weaving between people while lifting its head toward different faces as if searching for someone very specific.
Nobody paid attention at first.
Then suddenly it stopped directly in front of Emma.
