Once the rain stopped...
What was the old woman planning to do?
"...I..."
"I didn't think that far ahead..."
The old woman's voice grew weaker and weaker.
She understood how foolish she had been.
"Maybe..."
The old woman raised her voice a little.
"Once the rain stops, my foot will feel better."
"Or maybe if I wait a little longer..."
"I'll be sitting here for quite a while..."
"But what if it..."
Xiao Xiao sounded somewhat helpless. "Starts raining harder?"
"What are you planning to do?"
Before the old woman could answer, Xiao Xiao continued, "You should ask someone for help."
"Your family, for example."
"Or your friends."
"You're injured, so you can absolutely call 120."
"Have an ambulance take you to the hospital for treatment."
There were plenty of options.
Yet the old woman had chosen the one that was worst for her.
The old woman pressed her lips together.
"...I..."
She clenched the hand resting on her knee.
"...I don't want to leave here."
Xiao Xiao was a little surprised by the old woman's almost "stubborn" words.
"It's raining."
"More importantly, your foot is injured."
Xiao Xiao pointed out her predicament.
"Why don't you want to leave?"
"I'm waiting for someone."
The old woman blurted out the words.
Xiao Xiao nodded.
Good.
The last time he'd met the old woman, she'd also said she was waiting for someone.
Was it a coincidence?
He kept running into old people who were waiting for someone.
"You could contact them and arrange another time."
He didn't think that should be a problem.
"I..."
The old woman looked stunned.
"Contact him?"
"Yes."
Xiao Xiao sensed that something was a little off about the old woman.
He didn't let it show.
The corners of