Her eyes were stone, staring straight at him. He expected her to falter, but she didn’t. Expected a touch in her eyes, one he couldn’t find.

She knew she was right for doing what she did. She knew they wouldn’t understand, so she wouldn’t bother to explain. She would stand here, tall and stubborn, letting them know she thought she was right.

She could still imagine his face. Watching life drain from his eyes, his face fall limp as his body collapsed to the ground. The feeling of that. Going from two in a room, to one. Alone.

But she did it. She felt a sense of accomplishment. He was gone. And she did it.

That evening, before the police had found her, she had gone home to her siblings. To her little brother, Caleb. And her sister, Maia. She had embraced them in her arms, knowing that man would never see them, and they would never see him. They were safe. They were alive. And they would stay that way.

She couldn’t bring it up now. Then people would ask questions. Questions she didn’t have answers to. They would demand to be involved. But she had to keep them safe. Caleb and Maia. They would be safe if she did this.

So she looked them in the eyes with that cold, blank stare. And she stood tall. Leaving them forever wondering why.