A young girl was walking home one evening when she felt a strange sense of unease. Glancing over her shoulder, she noticed a man dressed in black quietly following her. Her heart began to race, and fear surged through her, but then she remembered her father’s wise advice: “If you ever feel unsafe, find light and make noise.”

Acting quickly, she darted toward her apartment building, switching on all the stairwell lights as she ran. With trembling hands, she pounded on the nearest door, shouting for help as loudly as she could.

Her cries echoed through the building, startling the man behind her.

The sudden burst of light and noise caught him off guard. In that moment, a door swung open, revealing a concerned man and woman standing inside. Seeing them, the stranger froze, his eyes wide with shock, before abruptly turning and fleeing into the darkness outside.

Though shaken, the girl slowly began to calm down as she clutched her school bag. She realized how powerful her quick thinking had been — by following her father’s advice, she had drawn attention, frightened the stranger away, and kept herself safe. It was a moment of bravery she would never forget.