Lily loved the freedom of city life, especially the convenience of public transportation. She took the subway every day, often reading or listening to music on her commute home. One evening, she noticed the train was emptier than usual. It was late, and most people had already headed home. As the train rattled through the tunnels, a man boarded and sat uncomfortably close to her, despite the abundance of empty seats. She felt her stomach tighten with unease.

Trying to ignore him, she moved to another car, but the man followed. Now alarmed, Lily’s mind raced through her options. The doors were about to close at the next stop, and she would be trapped in the car with him. The man stood, moving toward her. Fear gripped her, but something else surfaced too—determination. She had taken a self-defense workshop a year ago and had always thought of it as a "just in case" skill. Now, she was about to put it to use.

As the man tried to corner her, Lily stood tall and assumed a defensive stance. She made her voice strong and clear: “Back off!” The aggressor didn’t expect her to fight back, but when he grabbed at her, she didn’t hesitate. With a swift kick to his knee and a strike to his face, she disoriented him. He stumbled, and Lily seized the opportunity to dash toward the conductor’s compartment and shout for help.

Police arrived at the next station and arrested the man. Shaken but unharmed, Lily felt a surge of pride. Her bravery and quick actions had not only protected her, but the police later told her she might have stopped a repeat offender. From that day forward, Lily became an advocate for women’s self-defense, encouraging her friends and colleagues to empower themselves through training.