To be her

Prologue

The girl sat on the sidewalk, leaning back on her hands, headphones tucked in, the world around her nothing but a muted blur. She didn't notice the car until it stopped just a few feet away. The vehicle reversed slowly, and the window rolled down, revealing a man's face shadowed in the dim streetlight. His voice, rough but cautious, broke the silence. "Do you need some help?"
She looked up, surprised but unbothered. "Not really, but thanks."
His brow furrowed as he leaned out a bit further. "Are you sure? It's late." There was something in his voice, maybe curiosity or maybe something darker. She shrugged, replying, "Yeah, I live nearby. I'm fine. Thanks, though."
Under his breath, he let out a dry chuckle. "Don't worry, I'm not a kidnapper or a creep," he said, with a trace of sarcasm. "Just figured I'd check. Not every day you see someone sitting alone on the sidewalk at this hour."
She flinched a little, feeling a twinge of guilt at her quick dismissal. Maybe he really was just... concerned. She shifted, her gaze softening as she glanced back up at him. "Sorry, I didn't mean it like that."
"It's fine." He shrugged, but there was a glint of curiosity still lingering in his gaze. "So, why are you out here, anyway?"
She smirked, arching a brow. "I could ask you the same thing. You're the one driving around at this hour."
He let out a soft laugh, leaning against the car door as he sized her up. "Touché. I guess I saw you and figured I'd check if you were, you know, real. For a second, I thought you might be... something else." His words hung heavy, like a confession, his gaze intense. "Just sitting there, in the dark like that... you had me half-convinced you were a ghost."
She let out a small laugh, the sound almost surprising even herself. "No offense taken. I guess I just have that effect."
They lingered in silence for a moment, just the streetlights humming above them.
Finally, she straightened, breaking the connection. "I should go. It was... nice meeting you."
He nodded, his expression softening. "Good night."
"Good night," she murmured, heading off into the shadows, feeling his gaze on her until she disappeared from sight.