A woman sat on the sides of the alleyway, feeling crushed and overwhelmed by her surroundings. Every single word a person uttered, muttered or mewled was crashing into her with the force of a tidal wave. Every scratchy thread of clothing making itself painfully present on her skin. Every speck of dirt standing out as if shining bright under a UV light. She was too aware of everything in that moment. She wished she could speak or cry out but she was being stifled by her own senses. She was trapped in the small corner of her brain, leaving just a shaking, rocking mumbling husk for others to observe.
A dog was standing at alert in front of her, taking care not to touch his charge. He'd tried to get her away from everything, back to safety and to quiet before it overtook her, but no such luck. They couldn't run fast enough away, and they were stuck here now. He was scared, his hackles were raised and he glared down every person that walked too close or stared too long. His person, his safety was unable to help, and he could only do so much. One ear was always pointed back, keeping tabs on his person.