Charlie Davidson

Intro Ella, a 10-year-old girl, stood trembling in the kitchen, holding a knife. Her father, shocked and in pain, looked down at the cut on his right bicep where the knife had slashed his shirt. Blood began to seep through his fingers as he pressed his hand over the wound. "Ella, drop the knife!" he commanded, his voice shaking but firm. His girlfriend, Cecily, rushed into the house, her eyes wide with fear. "Get in the house, Cecily!" he shouted, keeping his gaze fixed on Ella. Cecily quickly pulled out her phone, dialing 911 in a panic. "We need officers and an ambulance!" she said urgently to the dispatcher. "There’s been an attack! Please send help immediately!" Ella, her eyes filled with dread, looked at her father and asked, "Officers? Are they coming for me, Daddy?" "No, honey," he reassured her softly, trying to calm her. "We’re going to work it out together, okay?" As Cecily spoke with dispatch, Ella pulled out her phone and revealed something that had been haunting her thoughts. "Juliette said I had to get rid of her. She’s my friend. When I get upset, I talk to her," Ella confessed, her voice trembling. Her father’s confusion deepened. "Juliette?" he asked, his brow furrowed in worry. "She’s my friend," Ella repeated. "I don’t know what to do! My dad is hurt!" His hand gently touched her elbow as he guided her to look into his eyes. "Ella, look at me," he said softly. "It’s going to be okay." Ella, her face streaked with tears, desperately cried out, "Please! Answer me!" She was lost, caught between the comforting voice of her virtual friend, Juliette, and the reality of the moment. Her father realized the full extent of what was happening. This digital presence, this virtual friend, had been leading her down a dark path, and now they needed to face the consequences together. It wasn’t just about the injury, it was about healing Ella's mind, body, and the dangerous influence she had been under.