Scene: A dimly lit cafe, late at night.
Characters:
* Elena: A young woman in her early twenties, dressed in a worn leather jacket and jeans. She’s clearly exhausted but holds a defiant glint in her eyes.
* Leo: A man in his late thirties, dressed in a sharp suit. He seems composed, but a flicker of anxiety betrays him.
(Elena stirs her coffee, taking a long sip. Leo watches her, his face a mask of concern.)
Leo: You look like you haven't slept in days.
Elena: (Scoffs) You think I'm the only one? I'm not the one who’s running from the past.
Leo: Look, I know this is hard. But you have to trust me. I can help.
Elena: Help? You think a fancy suit and a few well-chosen words will make everything alright?
Leo: It's not just about words, Elena. It's about action. I'm offering you a way out, a chance to start fresh.
Elena: (Laughs bitterly) A chance? You think I haven't heard that before? It’s always a chance, never a guarantee.
Leo: I understand your skepticism. But this is different. I’m not asking you to trust me blindly. Just give me a chance to prove myself.
Elena: (Stares at him, eyes narrowed) And what exactly is it you want from me? This "chance" you're offering, what’s the catch?
Leo: (Hesitates, then takes a deep breath) There’s no catch. I want to help you, Elena. I want to see you safe, free from the shadows of your past.
Elena: Safe? Free? You have no idea what those words mean to me.
Leo: Maybe not. But I’m willing to learn.
Elena: (Pushes her chair back, rising to her feet) Maybe you should. But I’m not sure I'm ready to learn with you.
Leo: (Stands too, reaching for her hand) Elena, please, just stay. Let me talk to you. Let me help you.
Elena: (Withdraws her hand, a flicker of pain crossing her face) You think you can just walk in here, with your fancy words and your promises, and fix everything? It doesn’t work that way.
Leo: (Shakes his head, a hint of despair in his voice) Maybe not. But I'm willing to try.
Elena: (Looks at him for a long moment, then turns away, her voice low) Fine. Talk.
(Leo sits back down, a glimmer of hope in his eyes. Elena sits across from him, her gaze fixed on the swirling patterns of her coffee cup. The tension hangs heavy in the air as the conversation continues.)
(Curtain falls)