**Shortcut**

Through streets that hum with evening's hum,

A shortcut whispers, "Hurry, come."

The alley beckons, dark and tight,

A veiled path in the dying light.

In shadows deep, where secrets hide,

Footsteps echo, fears collide.

A heartbeat quickens in a fearful race.

Yet in the gloom, a figure stands,

A presence gentle, reaching hands.

The dark unveils a friend’s true face,

A guiding light in a narrow space.

Through trepidation, trust ignites,

A shortcut's path to unexpected sights.

In darkness found, a friend’s embrace,

Transforms a fear into a saving grace.