Emma stood trembling, clutching her backpack against her chest. Her voice was gone, but her father\u2019s words echoed louder than ever.<\/p>\n
She had made light. She had made noise.<\/p>\n
And because of that\u2014she was safe.<\/p>\n
The door flew open. A broad-shouldered man in sweatpants appeared, his wife hovering just behind him.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s going on here?\u201d the man barked, eyes flicking from the terrified girl to the stranger at the bottom of the stairs.<\/p>\n
The stranger\u2019s face went rigid\u2014shock, then calculation. He turned on his heel and vanished into the night, his coat whipping behind him like a shadow retreating.<\/p>\n
Courage Remembered<\/strong><\/p>\n Emma stood trembling, clutching her backpack against her chest. Her voice was gone, but her father\u2019s words echoed louder than ever.<\/p>\n She had made light. She had made noise.<\/p>\n And because of that\u2014she was safe.<\/p>\n
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