“Don’t you think I’d be scared to enter my classroom on that first day back? That I might stare at the doorknob on the classroom door and not want to turn it? Maybe another student would attack me…”
She nodded. “That’s perfectly normal.”
“So if a soldier was traumatized in battle, don’t you think it would be okay for her hand to hesitate on that theoretical doorknob to the battlefield again?”
Her teeth nibbled on her bottom lip.
Poppy whispered, “I guess so.”
“And do you think it would make her a stronger person if she learned how to turn that doorknob without so much hesitation?”
“Yes.” Her shoulders straightened a little.
I kept my gaze directly on hers, not allowing her to look away from the truth. “It is okay to be afraid. And if you want to become a stronger soldier, you need to know your weaknesses—even the mental ones. Work on them. Better yourself. Make yourself stronger.”
Her eyelashes fluttered as her face lowered, no longer so proud. She mumbled, “I understand now. Thank you, Mina.”
“You’re welcome.” I placed my hand on top of hers, squeezing it in reassurance. “I have faith in you.”
“That’s very kind of you. I hope it’s well-placed.”
I patted her hand before clasping my own on my lap, my back straight and proper. “Now, I would like to ask you a favor.”
One of her red brows rose. “I’m not sure what I can help you with. You seem to have everything you’d want.”
“Not everything. In light of recent events, I have come to realize that I have a profound weakness. It’s one I would like to better.”
“What is it?”
“Well, I can teach a classroom full of students with amazing precision, but if anyone ever tried to hit me, I wouldn’t know what to do.”
She blinked. “You’d duck and hit them back.”
I nodded curtly. “See? That’s what I’m talking about.”
“You want me to train you to fight?” Her eyes traveled up and down my frame. “I’m not sure if that’s possible.”
“Perhaps not. But if I don’t try, then that’ll be my failure.” I chewed on the inside of my cheek. “Just the basics. Enough to get out of a chokehold like my kidnapper used to take Megan out or where to punch an attacker to slow them down.”
Poppy’s eyes softened, her head slowly nodding. “Yeah, okay. I can help you with those things.”
“Thank you so much,” I rushed to say, my shoulders heaving in relief. I turned my attention from her and stared out the window. “I have my own demons to work on. You aren’t the only one who is afraid, Poppy.”
