The spray hit Mark squarely in the face before he could cover his eyes.
He immediately stopped moving forward and let out a loud groan of terrible pain.
Mark: Ow! My eyes! I cannot see anything!
Mark clutched his face with both hands, stumbling backward toward the living room.
He dropped to his knees on the wooden floor, completely helpless from the strong mist.
Lily kept holding the small blue canister, her little arms shaking from the adrenaline.
She did not run away into the street because she needed to check on her mother.
She ran back into the bright kitchen where Sarah was slowly trying to stand up.
Sarah looked up in complete amazement as her young daughter rushed back to her side.
Sarah: Lily! Are you okay? Did he touch you?
Lily: I am okay, Mommy. I used the spray from the shelf.
Mark groaned loudly from the nearby room while rubbing his burning eyes frantically.
Mark: Call an ambulance! My face is burning so badly!
Lily stepped in front of her mother and looked toward the hallway where Mark knelt.
Her posture was strong, and her young face showed no signs of fear anymore.
Lily: Don't touch my mom ever again, or I will do it again!
Sarah pulled her brave little girl into a tight, warm hug right on the kitchen floor.
Tears of relief streamed down Sarah's cheeks as she held her daughter close.
The loud security keypad began to chime repeatedly, signaling that the emergency signal went through.
Help was already on the way to their suburban home.
Sarah looked at her daughter with overwhelming pride and deep gratitude in her eyes.
Sarah: You were so brave, Lily. You saved us tonight.
Lily: Nobody gets to hurt my mom, ever.