The girl looked about sixteen. Maybe older. Her clothes were layered and worn. Her hair hung in tangled curls. A shopping cart stood beside her, filled with bottles, jars, and things Daniel couldn’t identify.
She looked homeless.
Before Daniel could react, Lily slipped from the bench and walked toward her.
“Lily—wait,” Daniel called, standing.
The girl smiled when she saw Lily. Not the guarded smile people gave out of politeness—but a warm one, like she had been expecting her.
“You don’t talk either, do you?” the girl said softly.
Daniel froze.
Lily didn’t nod. Didn’t shake her head.
She simply watched.
The girl reached into her cart and pulled out a small glass vial filled with a cloudy, amber-colored liquid.
“This helps,” she said. “It helped me.”
Daniel stepped forward sharply. “Absolutely not.”
The girl met his gaze, unafraid. “I’m not selling anything. And I’m not forcing her.”
Lily reached for the vial.
Daniel hesitated.
The girl crouched down to Lily’s level. “You don’t have to,” she said gently. “Only if you want to.”
Lily took the vial.
Daniel’s heart pounded. Every instinct screamed danger. But something in the girl’s eyes—sad, steady, honest—made him stop.