I turned to face the young woman I had accidentally hit. She was holding her cheek and eye, part of which I could see had started to turn pink.
“Oh my God!” I exclaimed. “I’m so sorry!”
I reached out to touch the woman’s arm, but she shrunk away from me.
“Please, let me help you,” I continued. “Let me get you inside. We can get you some ice—”
“No!” the woman said, shaking her head. Her hand never left the side of her face. “No.”
“Please, I insist…”
I reached out for her again, but she stepped away from me.
The woman kept shaking her head and muttering “no” as she back away through the crowd. I thought I saw tears on the uncovered side of her face. My heart broke.
All eyes were suddenly on me. I had no clue w
