Lucia's hand trembled as the blade hovered just an inch away from the small, cute tiger. The weight of her actions bore down on her, and her face contorted in emotional agony. As the critical moment approached, an internal battle raged within her, reflected in her shaking hands and the conflict visible in her eyes.
Suddenly, Lucia stopped. The knife halted in mid-air, her resolve crystallizing in that split second. She opened her mouth, her voice quivering with emotion and determination, "No, no, no..." Her words echoed in the surreal silence of the testing chamber, each syllable heavy with defiance.
Gathering all her strength, Lucia continued, her voice growing stronger, "I cannot let you kill it." With a surge of willpower, she flung the knife away from her. It clattered to the floor, its metallic sound ringing out as a symbol of her rejection of the command.