An Unexpected Encounter During an afternoon walk with my dog, I ducked under a bridge and met a striking young woman. She crouched there, seemingly curled into herself. My dog trotted over, and I quipped, more as a joke, “He knows who needs a hug.” She petted him, admitting she wasn’t fond of dogs and felt a bit scared, but this gentle creature won her over. Her eyes, though, told a story of deep sadness and loss. She shared she was headed to a party but lacked the strength t
