She hesitated for a moment, fear and pain warring on her face. Then, with a shaky nod, she accepted his help. Ethan braced himself, using every bit of his meager strength to help her into the wheelbarrow. She groaned with the effort, her face pale, but she managed to settle in as best as she could.

“Hold on,” Ethan said, gripping the handles tightly. The wheelbarrow was heavy, the rain making the task even harder, but he pushed forward with determination. One step at a time, he navigated the flooded street, feeling the chill of the water through his shoes.

It was a slow, arduous journey, but Ethan never stopped. The city loomed around them, indifferent and cold, but he refused to be deterred. Each step felt like a victory, each inch forward a testament to the strength he hadn’t known he possessed.

Eventually, they reached the relative safety of the sidewalk. Ethan helped the woman from the wheelbarrow, easing her onto a dry patch of concrete. She lay back, exhausted and in pain, but safe for now. Ethan knelt beside her, his own exhaustion catching up.

“Thank you,” she whispered, her voice hoarse but filled with sincerity. “You saved me.”