Page 95 of If Our Hearts Collide

“It’s where you rely on other people’s lack of instincts to dictate your own during a potentially dangerous situation.” When she still looks confused, I elaborate. “For example… If you are at a store shopping and someone walks in that makes you question their intentions of being there, don’t look around to see if anyone else looks uncertain. Leave immediately. Trust yourself.”

“Got it. Okay.”

“So let’s start with basic wrist grabs and work our way to getting out of certain holds. But Penny?”

“Hmm?”

“None of what I’ll teach you today is going to replace common sense and trying to avoid danger in the first place. This is only meant to supplement what you should already be practicing.”

“Like not getting into cars with strangers,” she supplies.

“Exactly.”

I reach out my palm. “Let me have your arm.”

Penny complies.

“To get out of a single hand wrist grab, bring your arm up to your face and rotate your hand so that your thumb is facing you.” I wait until she mimics my directions. “Then thrust your hand down and out to break the grip.”

When we try it a couple of times, I switch roles.

“You try to grab me.”

And she does, except her small fingers can barely make it around half my wrist.

“The goal is to get away from being the prey andnotto in turn switch and become the predator.”

An hour passes of practicing various grabs and holds.

“You’re a fast learner.”

“I still can’t get you knocked down.”

I chuckle. “That wasn’t ever the point.”

“Collins?”

“Yes?”

“I’m trying to absorb all that you taught me, but sometimes when I freak out when someone touches me, I also black out.”

“How often does this happen?”

I can tell she is thinking. “About once a month.”

“I’m sorry that happens to you, Pen. I wish I could make it stop, but I can only help you overcome some of your fears by fueling the inner strength you already have.”

I hate seeing her sad. Maybe if she can be less afraid of the dark, then maybe she can learn to function in that shadowy space in her mind.

“I have an idea,” I say, walking to the edge of the room where I have a gym bag resting on a bench.

“Okay…”

“I know you said you don’t like the dark…” I pull out a band from my bag that I sometimes use to wrap my hands for sparring. “But what would you think to being blindfolded and trying out some of the self-defense moves?”

Penny’s eyes latch on to the black band in my hand. “I’d say your teaching methods are unconventional and I’d question your logic.”

I make my way back to the center of the mat and try to hide my grin over Penny’s bold nature. I’ve seen her in enough situations to know she’s nowhere near as comfortable with other people as she is with me.

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