“Is that phone an expensive one? Give it here so you don’t break it.”

Veronica was silent. Her face was serious, but her eyes showed tension.

The second guy walked around her.

“Look how fashionable she is. Nice watch. The chain is shiny. Looks like she has something to take off.”

“Don’t shake, we’ll be careful,” the third added and laughed quietly.

They were standing too close, cutting off their way back.

“You understand, right, that there’s no help here?” the leader said. “Give it all up calmly and move on.”

“Or what?” “Veronica asked calmly, trying to keep her voice steady.

The boys exchanged glances.

“Otherwise it will be unpleasant,” one of them replied. “We don’t like it when people argue with us.”

They laughed, chatting among themselves, discussing her phone, her sneakers, her necklace. One even reached his hand closer to her shoulder, as if testing her fear.

They saw before them simply a lonely, defenseless woman after training.