At 14, I stayed overnight at my friend Alina’s house. Her quiet dad alarmed me when I spotted a hidden camera in her room at 2 a.m. I panicked, covering it with a blanket, only for him to storm in, yelling it was a “heat sensor.” Embarrassed but suspicious, I left early, avoiding future visits. Three years later, a news article revealed Alina’s dad’s arrest for recording girls in his home, confirming my fears. Alina, who tipped off police, later contacted me, explaining her ordeal and how my reaction had exposed his setup, hastening his downfall. She began speaking at
a youth shelter, inspiring a girl to report abuse, leading to another investigation. I joined the shelter’s summer program, learning to trust instincts and act, realizing even small actions—like covering that “sensor
