And that raises a bigger question. When does realism go too far? For Lt. Short, the answer is complex.
He acted on instinct, driven by compassion and duty. In that moment, doll or not, he believed a child needed saving.
And that’s what heroes do. They don’t pause to question. They act. For Carolynne, it was a surreal moment—watching something she loved cause so much confusion.
For the rest of us, it’s a reminder. The world is full of surprises. And sometimes, not everything is what it seems. But human kindness? That’s always real.
