01-16-2026, 02:48 PM
Tatyana nodded. It was difficult to do in the middle without momentum. "It is hard, but it's good to think about these things. Then you don't have to think about it in the middle of a fight."
Tatyana began to move, demonstrating what she would do. "If your attacker is standing and you're not, they have to reach down to attack you, putting them off balance. So instead of blocking, you move out of the way and with a push, they're on the ground, then you can get up."
Tatyana did the movements and then stood up, and smiled at the girls. The pain of loss was still in her gut, but it was diminished. Something felt different. They were children, but now she had friends. Friends who really understood her. Others could say they understood her, but they didn't really. They didn't get it like these girls did. It felt nice. At the same time, they were learning how harsh the world could be. They could use someone like Tatyana to have their backs.
"You guys are pretty fun," she looked back and forth between the two of them. "If you're okay with it, I'll claim one of these alcoves as my own. We can still have our privacy, but be neighbors, no?" None of them had to be alone anymore.
Tatyana began to move, demonstrating what she would do. "If your attacker is standing and you're not, they have to reach down to attack you, putting them off balance. So instead of blocking, you move out of the way and with a push, they're on the ground, then you can get up."
Tatyana did the movements and then stood up, and smiled at the girls. The pain of loss was still in her gut, but it was diminished. Something felt different. They were children, but now she had friends. Friends who really understood her. Others could say they understood her, but they didn't really. They didn't get it like these girls did. It felt nice. At the same time, they were learning how harsh the world could be. They could use someone like Tatyana to have their backs.
"You guys are pretty fun," she looked back and forth between the two of them. "If you're okay with it, I'll claim one of these alcoves as my own. We can still have our privacy, but be neighbors, no?" None of them had to be alone anymore.