Unbeknownst to her peers, Anna was more than the quiet girl who melted into the background. She had been training in martial arts since she was a child, a discipline her parents insisted upon for self-defense and confidence. Her instructors had always praised her for her discipline, her agility, and her surprising strength. She had never had to use these skills outside the dojo, but today seemed as good a time as any to break the pattern.

With a deep breath, Anna looked up, meeting the bully’s eyes with a steady gaze. The room seemed to hold its breath, silence cascading over the crowd like a wave. Then, with a calmness that defied the chaos around her, Anna took a single step back, her posture shifting into one of quiet readiness.