Lo Siento

Yesterday I walk to my car parked a block away on 109th. Coming towards me is a woman, nicely dressed, weaving along the sidewalk. She says she needs money for a MetroCard. I suspect she's not sober. I say, "I'm sorry," something I learned to say in Madrid where I was told to say "Lo siento" if I wasn't going to give money to a beggar, as if I were saying, I'm sorry I can't give you anything, I'm sorry you need to ask.