As he drew nearer, the murmur of the crowd became more pronounced, and he caught snippets of conversation from a young couple nearby. They were animatedly discussing their weekend plans, their cheerful voices and laughter cutting through the tension of the scene.
Harold’s initial resolve faltered as he listened to their conversation, and a heavy sense of resignation began to settle over him. The lively discussion of weekend activities seemed to underscore the normalcy of their lives, contrasting sharply with Joe’s distress.