The man didn’t answer.
Not because he didn’t care.
Because he had just understood something
he wasn’t supposed to see.
The white cloth.
It wasn’t random.
It was a mark.
A signal.
The kind you leave on something…
when it no longer belongs to the person holding it.
Slowly… carefully…
he reached into his coat.
The girl’s breathing stopped.
Behind them—
Another step.
Closer now.
The rain got louder.
Or maybe everything else went silent.
“How much?” the man asked.
Too calm.
Too controlled.
The girl hesitated.
Because suddenly…
this wasn’t about selling anymore.
“Please…” she whispered again, shaking now,
“just take it…”
That’s when one of the men spoke from behind:
“Hey.”
Not loud.
But enough.
Both of them froze.
The man in the coat stood up slowly…
placing himself slightly in front of the girl.
A small movement.
But a dangerous one.
“You’re taking too long,” the suited man said.
No anger.
No rush.
Which made it worse.
The man looked down at the bicycle one last time.
Then back at them.
And in that moment—
He made a decision
that would either save her…
or make him disappear with her.
He grabbed the bike.
Took the girl’s hand.
And said quietly:
“Run.”
