Patience had no idea what was happening around her. She sat, sniffling, on the pavement, trying to brush the tears from her eyes but her handkerchief had been in her purse and she knew already she must look a state. Patience couldn’t believe no-one on the street had stopped to help her, she could hear people whispering and she knew they had stopped but no-one had come to her aid. It was a sign of the decay of society as her father always said but that was no comfort to her now.
She looked up hearing footsteps nearing her, blink back her tears in surprise and she took the man's hand, letting him help pull her up. "My purse." She said, looking from it to the man. "Thank you. How did you ever get it back?"