Lily sat quietly under the large oak tree in the schoolyard, her notebook open on her lap, lost in her drawings and sketches. Her notebook was filled with childlike sketches of unicorns and rainbows within imaginary landscapes. So absorbed and engrossed was she, that she didn't notice the three older girls approaching until they were right in front of her.

  One girl whispered to her companions with a smirk, 'Watch this—she’s gonna freak out!' She then turned to Lily, her expression shifting to a haughty disdain as she snatched the notebook from Lily's hands. 'Hey, what’s this?'

  Startled, Lily’s eyes widened in fear. 'Hey! My drawings! Give them back!' she pleaded beseechingly.

  The girls exchanged glances, their laughter devoid of warmth as they flipped through the notebook. 'These are so lame,' one remarked, pulling out a page and crumpling it. 'Oh, does the little baby not like it when we ruin her drawings?' another taunted, as tears welled up in Lily’s eyes and spilled over. 'No, my drawings!' Lily wailed.

  Emily heard Lily’s distressed voice from across the yard and spotting the unfolding commotion from across the yard, felt a surge of anger and protectiveness deep within her stirring emotions she couldn’t quite name. Heart pounding, she sprinted toward them, her frame fueled by a fierce urgency she couldn’t explain. “Leave her alone!” Emily yelled as she closed the distance, realizing how childlike and unintimidating her high-pitched kid voice was - a contrast to the intensity of her emotions within her.

  The group of bullies paused and turned to face Emily, their expressions morphing from amusement to annoyance. "Huh? Who do you think you are?" one of them, apparently the leader, commented with a scoff, shoving Emily back deftly and with a surprising amount of force. “Get lost, kid” she added with a sneer, returning to torment Lily dismissing Emily as no threat.

  Reeling from the shove yet managing to stay on her feet, Emily felt a sudden, unexpected wave of helplessness wash over her. For an instant—so brief she wondered if she’d imagined it—she saw fragments and images that felt like looking through someone else’s eyes: being bullied by older kids, then by adults, hiding in a car as despair and anger pressed in, faces twisted with a venom she didn’t understand. Emotions she couldn’t place flooded her—helplessness, shame, and anger fraught with self-blame for not pushing back.

  These memories lasted mere nanoseconds, seemingly fading almost as soon as they’d come, leaving only a bitter aftertaste, a deep impression that stoked a fury she hadn’t known she could feel. “Never again—not me, not Lily, not anyone I care about”, she resolved fiercely, the thought ringing through her mind with a voice both hers but yet - not entirely hers. As her fear of confrontation melted away, she straightened up, her eyes shining with newfound determination. “I said, leave her alone!” she shouted again, her voice louder this time, her helplessness transforming into a protective fury.

  The lead bully glared at Emily, clearly unprepared to be challenged twice in a row. Her face twisted in a mix of confusion and irritation, her dominance slipping in a way she wasn’t used to. “Why, you little…” she began, stepping forward and pushing Emily again, this time harder.

  However, Emily, driven by an instinct she didn’t truly comprehend, blocked the shove with surprising dexterity. At the same moment, another flash lit up her mind—an image of herself - but somehow not herself - sobbing alone, helpless. As she looked at Lily’s tear-streaked face, the memory fused with the present, and something inside her finally snapped. She felt anger from somewhere deep, from two lives and two universes tangled together, and with a loud scream, she unleashed her fury in one fierce gut punch.

  The bully’s eyes went wide with shock, and she doubled over, gasping for breath as she dropped Lily’s sketchbook, which Lily promptly scooped up. The bully’s co-conspirators stared in shock, taken aback by the sudden turn of events, uncertain how to proceed.

  Emily, breathing heavily, remarked with a dark grin - ‘Not so tough now, are you?’ she taunted, adrenaline surging through her veins, as the intimidated aggressors backed away slightly. A voice - a murmur - that was both her and incredibly - someone else’s - rose within her. Under her breath, she muttered, “Bullies… you’re all the same, in every universe.” A small, fierce satisfaction rippled through her. “God, that felt good,” she whispered, almost to herself.

  A teacher, alerted by Emily’s loud challenge, swiftly approached the scene to break up the fight. She surveyed the scene—a nineish-year-old defiant with her fist clenched, an older girl bent over in near tears, and another young girl clutching a torn sketchbook. The teacher’s eyes narrowed as she pieced together the scenario. 'What is going on here?' she demanded simultaneously stern and concerned.

  Emily, still catching her breath and feeling the throbbing in her hand, struggled to put into words what had happened. “These—these FREAKING JACKASSES were bullying Lily!” she burst out. “It was three against one—they started it…” Her heightened emotions seemed to unlock something—a vocabulary she didn’t know she possessed. Operating on pure instinct, she added a phrase no one would expect from a child her age, glaring at the three aggressors. “Not so big now, are you… you knuckle-dragging troglodytes?”

  The teacher's gaze hardened as she surveyed the group. "Stop it - that’s enough," she commanded sharply. "All of you, come with me. Now." Her tone left no room for discussion as she marched them toward the principal's office, flashing daggers their way.

  Lucy, who had observed the fight, approached the teacher hesitatingly, casting wary , sidelong glances at the bullies. "Miss," Lucy began, her voice atypically subdued than usual, "I saw everything. Emily was just defending Lily. They were really mean to her, tearing up her drawings and everything" she explained, pointing accusingly at the bullies.

  The teacher's expression softened slightly. "Thank you for telling me that. I had a feeling something was off. I'll make sure the principal is fully informed."

  —

  Inside the office, the principal chastised the older girls sternly, his disapproval beyond evident. "I will be meeting with your parents," he ended. "Picking on a girl so much younger than you - cowardly and completely unacceptable behavior." After dismissing the bullies with a stern warning, he turned to Emily with a sigh. "While I'm glad you stood up for your friend, we can't condone physical violence. Do you understand? I'll be discussing this with your parents as well."

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  Emily nodded, her anger simmering down yet still very much present. She bit her lips to prevent her from screaming. Why had no one intervened before her? Why hadn't anyone helped Lily before things escalated so much? But she remained silent, holding back her frustrations, her hands clenched.

  Lily, please wait outside. I need a word with Emily—in private," the principal indicated with a nod. A hesitant Lily exited, glancing nervously at both individuals on the way out. The principal dismissed the teacher as well. Once they were alone, the principal leaned forward slightly and whispered softly so that only Emily could hear, "Emily, I know I have to say we can't fight, but..." he added with a wink, "I want you to know that standing up for a friend is important. You did a brave thing today. Just...try to find a teacher next time, okay?"

  Taken aback by this unexpected understanding and empathy, Emily instinctively nodded—confused but feeling a faint glow of pride and affirmation. The principal offered a small, understanding smile—a gesture Emily was surprised to realize that she recognized - a familiarity sparked as if she had seen in another life. This was the kind of smile shared with others when they acknowledged a tough situation handled with unexpected maturity.

  "Go on now, your friend is waiting," he added, leaning back with a small smile, "And remember, sometimes courage is just as important as following the rules.

  Lily stood alone awaiting her friend, her gaze fixed on the ground. The day's events had left her feeling worn, uneasy, yet grateful. "Thanks for defending me, Em. No one ever did that for me before," she murmured, her voice tinged with a mix of relief, embarrassment and vulnerability.

  As Emily gazed at Lily, she inexplicably recognized the pain in her eyes—it was familiar, like one of the fleeting images or memories that had flashed through her mind earlier. She instinctively realized that Lily needed more than a simple “you’re welcome”—she needed reassurance. Without another thought, Emily pulled her friend into a comforting embrace and murmured softly, “You don’t need to thank me, Lily. We’re friends, and friends look out for each other.”

  As they hugged, Lily's eyes brimmed with tears, which soon spilled over. The girls held each other tightly as the fear and anger dissolved into the warmth of their friendship.

  —

  After school, Emily returned home with Sarah and Thomas, who had, for better or worse, already been apprised regarding the incident. The family settled into the living room as Sarah and Thomas exchanged a look, equal parts concern and pride, as they began navigating the delicate balance between disciplinarians and encouragers.

  Sarah cleared her throat, voice gentle but firm as she addressed Emily - “Emily, we're really proud that you stood up for Lily. It's good to help friends when they're in trouble."

  Thomas nodded in agreement. “But, kiddo, fighting isn’t the best way to solve problems, okay? And we need to watch our language, even when we’re really upset.” Emily noticed his mouth twitch slightly as he tried to stifle a smile before quickly adding, “And where did you learn a phrase like ‘knuckle-dragging troglodyte’?” Sarah sighed and stepped in quickly adding "It's important to tell a teacher if someone is being mean. Can you try that next time?"

  Emily, faced with her two concerned parents, felt small and instinctively ashamed.

  “I’m sorry… I…” she began in a small voice, but paused—sensing, deep within, a part of her that seemed to nudge her, quietly urging her to stand tall. “You have nothing to be ashamed of! You’re a hero, Em,” the voice seemed to whisper, a gentle but unwavering push that vanished almost as soon as it appeared. Yet it left Emily buoyed, steadying her heart and firming her resolve. She looked at her parents, feeling an unexpected surge of courage swell within her, as if someone or something were standing right beside her, ready to catch her if she fell.

  Taking a deep breath, Emily looked at her parents and finally responded - her voice unsteady but yet bold. 'Mom, Dad—I know you have to tell me not to fight, to ask for help. But you didn’t see how those girls were hurting Lily. Sometimes, you have to forget the rules...and just do what’s right,' she said, her voice becoming increasingly more steady. 'I didn’t see any other option. It was the only thing I could do. Who knows what might have happened if I’d gone looking for a teacher?'

  With a determined sigh, she added, “Punish me if you must, but I stand by my actions. This was an emergency in my book, and I won’t let my friends or family get hurt.” Emily felt her heart pounding, fueled by a fierce mix of determination and righteous fury toward the bullies. She knew, with every fiber of her being, that she was in the right and was ready to face the consequences, whatever they might be. Strangely, she didn’t feel alone; it was as though someone—or something—within her continued to bolster her resolve, standing firm beside her, lending her strength.

  “I’m sorry for calling them those words though..”she continued bracing for a parental reprimand regarding disobedience. With a small smile and afterthought she added “…even if they were acting like troglodytes”.

  Sarah and Thomas exchanged a stunned look, not expecting such a mature response from their child. Sarah sighed softly, the weight of parenting a brave child adding to her mixed emotions. "Emily, you have such a big heart... I…” she paused, struggling to find the right words.

  Thomas nodded, stepping in to help his wife. "We understand why you did it, and in many ways, we agree with you. But you have to stay safe too, kiddo," he added, his voice reflecting a mixture of pride and concern.

  Emily, sensing the subtle agreement in their tone and stunned at the lack of severe disciplinary consequences, felt a rush of gratitude towards her parents. "I understand," she said quietly, her voice steady yet thoughtful. “I’ll try to balance it better next time,” she added, more to acknowledge their perspective rather than commit to a change. Privately, promised herself 'If someone hurts my friends or family, I’ll still do what it takes to protect them.'

  That night, as Emily lay in bed staring at the ceiling, the day’s events replayed through her mind—Lily’s tears and gratitude, her own surge of courage, her parents’ mixed but supportive reactions, and even the principal’s quiet commendation. It all swirled together in her thoughts. Sometimes, doing the right thing means standing alone, she mused. But that day, Emily realized, she hadn’t been truly alone—not completely—even if she didn’t fully understand why.

  —

  The same night, as Sarah and Thomas retreated to their own bedroom, they reflected over the day’s events themselves. Sarah glanced over at Thomas, her expression a blend of admiration. “She was so…brave,” Sarah murmured with a proud smile. “The way she stood up to those bullies to help a friend…”

  Thomas nodded, his eyes quizzical yet filled with pride. 'She really is. Honestly, I was surprised by how mature she was, and how she just owned the entire thing without batting an eye. Honestly, how many adults could do what she did today?” And with a twinkle he added “And I can’t tell her this…but I’m proud she gave those bullies a good smackdown…maybe she has a future in martial arts?”

  Both parents broke into giggles, trying their hardest to stifle full-hearted laughter that might undermine their earlier admonishments. The tension of the day melted away as they thought of their daughter, growing up faster than they’d expected, blossoming into a courageous yet compassionate being.

  'She's going to be just fine.. Sarah stated, her statement hanging in the air with a mixture of brightness, hopefulness and awe. Thomas reached out, taking her hand in his. 'Yes, she will. And we’ll be right here to help her every step of the way.' He squeezed her hand gently, affirming before adding, with a gentle chuckle, “And who knows, maybe our brave little girl will end up teaching us a few things, too?'