Chapter 9 - TESSA FINALLY ASKED WHY KAIA DIDN’T HIT HARDERTessa received suspension pending review.
Months later, as part of a structured restorative process Kaia agreed to attend voluntarily, they sat across from each other.
Not alone.
Counselor present.
Tessa looked smaller without her audience.
She asked:
“You could’ve hurt me worse, right?”
Kaia answered:
“Yes.”
Tessa swallowed.
“Why didn’t you?”
“Because I wanted you away from me.”
That was all.
Not revenge.
Not dominance.
Distance.
Kaia continued:
“Martial arts isn’t supposed to help me win cafeteria arguments.”
Tessa looked down.
“I thought you were scared.”
“I was.”
Tessa looked surprised.
“You didn’t look scared.”
“That doesn’t mean I wasn’t.”
Important.
Skill does not erase fear.
Then Tessa whispered:
“Why didn’t you hit me after I fell?”
“Because you weren’t attacking me anymore.”
That stayed with her.
May you like
Control.
The very thing she had lacked.
