(Isabella)

Fostering courage, I ignored the cardboard sign and stepped into the room. But Maya remained still, rooted in fear.

“Come in, Maya. There’s no one else here,” I encouraged, gesturing for her to follow.

“It’s… it’s not about who’s in the room. It’s about who could come in to hurt us,” she said, trembling in place, her face etched with anxiety.

She was right, and yet it made no sense for her to stay outside.

“So you’d rather just stand there and wait for ...