He looked around as if expecting a posse of armed gunmen to round the corner at any moment. When footsteps sounded, he tensed, muscles bunching, prepared to leap up and defend us against--Two preteen boys passed the alcove. One of them saw us and whispered to his friend. They grinned our way and shot Daniel a thumbs-up. When they'd gone by, I pushed him off me.Okay, I might have overreacted, he said as we sat up.You think?
In a moment of tension, Daniel seems to be on edge, anticipating danger as he scans his surroundings for potential threats. His instincts kick in when he hears footsteps, and he prepares himself for conflict, ready to leap into action. However, the source of the noise turns out to be just two young boys who, upon noticing them, share a light-hearted moment by giving Daniel a thumbs-up and moving along. This shift from fear to normalcy highlights the absurdity of Daniel's earlier paranoia.
After the boys leave, a more relaxed atmosphere settles in, and Daniel acknowledges that he may have overreacted to the situation. This realization prompts a light exchange between the characters, showcasing their camaraderie and highlighting the contrast between his initial anxiety and the harmless reality of the situation. It captures a moment of levity in the narrative while also shedding light on Daniel's character and tendency to react strongly under pressure.
