Months ago, he had stood in the center of this room like he owned it. Now he was kneeling at the edge of it, patiently pulling a belt into a knot, saying, "No, buddy, other way. Over, then under. There you go. You did it."
The boy beamed.
Victor stood up, turned, and saw Daniel.
For a moment, neither of them moved.
Then Victor walked across the mat. He stopped a respectful distance away. He did not bow dramatically. He did not make a speech. He simply lowered his head, just slightly.
"Mr. Carter."
"Daniel's fine."
Victor nodded. Then his eyes went down to Lily, who was half hiding behind her father's leg.
"And who's this?"
"This is Lily," Daniel said. "She'd like to try the beginner class."
Victor crouched so he was at her eye level. Daniel watched him carefully. He had seen men pretend kindness before. He had seen men perform it for an audience.
But there was no audience here that mattered to Victor anymore. Daniel could tell.
"Hi, Lily," Victor said. "I'm going to be your teacher. Can I tell you a secret?"
Lily nodded slowly.
"The first day I ever came to a place like this, I fell on my face in front of everybody. Literally. Face first. My nose bled all over the mat."
Lily's eyes went wide. "Really?"
"Really. So whatever happens today, you're already doing better than I did."
And for the first time since they had left the house, Lily let go of her father's hand.
She stepped onto the mat by herself.
Daniel watched her go. Something tightened in his chest. Pride. Fear. Love. All the things a father feels when he realizes his child is walking into a world where he cannot always follow.
Master Raymond Hayes, the academy's owner, sat beside him on the bench. "She'll be safe here," he said. Daniel nodded. He knew.
Every time she stood, Victor clapped.