“Oh-…” and there she went. The sound of her sobs was met with a wince.

Had he spooked her off? Offended her?

Malachi watched her stumble away, finding himself at a sudden loss for words. She needed a priest, and… he was such a poor estimation of one that it would have felt like more of a lie to tell the truth. It would have felt wrong to hurry after her, to comfort her the way he wished he could, when she had already deemed him but a stranger.

“Please be careful, signora,” he called, and watched for a moment longer before he turned to head the other way.