CHAPTER FIFTY EIGHT – ANOTHER VICTIM

"Oh, I...I'm so sorry, you startled me," Jasmine stammered, hastily brushing away the tears that had started welling in her eyes. The woman gave her a warm smile. "No need to apologize, dear. We all have days where the world seems determined to keep kicking us when we're down, hm?" Something about her empathetic demeanor broke through Jasmine's defenses. Maybe it was the wistful understanding in the older woman's eyes that instantly cut through her usual prickly veneer. "I...you're right, it has been one gut-punch of a day - of a year, really," Jasmine admitted with a mirthless chuckle. "I'm just so drained from feeling like I can't get any traction, you know? Like I'm stuck spinning my wheels against this nightmare that keeps gaining momentum." The woman approached and took a seat alongside Jasmine, giving her a reassuring pat on the forearm. "Whatever you're dealing with, I'm sure it can't be easy at all. But you seem like a strong, resilient soul to me. Sometimes we all need t