Emma’s small hands gripped the straps of her backpack as a tall figure closed the distance between them. The autumn breeze nipped at her cheeks, but fear—not the cold—made shivers run down her spine. Instinct screamed to run, to dart back to school or a neighbor’s house. Yet her father’s words echoed in her mind: “Make light. Make noise.”
Turning Fear Into Performance
Without hesitation, Emma took a deep breath and transformed. She spun gracefully, as she had countless times in ballet class, pretending to notice something fascinating in the sky.
“Oh wow! Look at that!” she exclaimed, her voice full of wonder. Though small, it echoed down the empty street.
The stranger paused, caught off guard. Emma seized the moment. She twirled, her feet performing steps her instructor had taught her. Her scarf fluttered in the sunlight, scattering glimmers across the sidewalk.
