I was on the bus, taking my usual late night ride home from work, when I saw the woman.

Her bag was slung over the seat behind her, and she was staring straight ahead, looking

lost in her thoughts.

She looked too young to be on the bus at this late hour, too innocent to be in this part

of the city alone.

For some reason I felt immediately sorry for her.

She looked sad, ready to burst into tears at any second.

She caught me staring, and I looked away.

A few minutes later we arrived at her stop, and she stood to get off the bus.

It was just the two of us, at the end of the route, at the end of the night, the rest

of the world sleeping soundly in their houses and apartments all around us.

There weren't many stops left, and I would be getting off soon, too.

We go back to my lonely apartment, and my boring life.

As the doors opened, I saw she had left her back behind.

It was still slung over the back of her seat.

Miss, wait!

I shouted after her, but it was already too late.

She was walking away from the bus and couldn't hear me.

Hang on a sec, driver.

I got up and grabbed the bag, then hustled to catch up with her.

Hey Miss, you forgot your purse!

She looked back at me from a distance, then she began to run.

...