Emma’s small hands tightened around the straps of her backpack as the tall figure began to close the distance between them. She could feel the chilly autumn breeze tickle her cheeks, but the cold wasn’t what sent shivers down her spine. Her instincts told her to run, to dart back towards school or to a neighbor’s house, but her father’s voice played over and over in her mind: “Make light. Make noise.”
Without thinking, Emma took a deep breath and did what she knew best: she transformed into a performer. Standing tall, she spun around gracefully, like she had practiced countless times in her ballet class, her eyes wide open, pretending to spot something fascinating in the sky.
“Oh wow! Look at that!” she exclaimed with a voice full of wonder. Her voice, though small, echoed down the empty street.
