We Are

raight to work. But today was her d

the house door using the spare key she always

firmed that David h

off her shoes and neatly p

ing an incoming message. She reached

he thought as she

g over at a friend's place tonight, so don't wait

kly typed

e. I understand.

ill for a moment. Her focus shifted from h

But before her fingers could touch the doorknob, her

-don't go near the master be

didn't

ed to the door

it, but I was just about

ning, she reached fo

cold metal, and she turned it-on

ught with a sigh, pu

ething unexpe

d touched t

a's eyes darte

irl stood

ld effortlessly turned the knob, unlocking th

s the girl st

t to sleep here with you and Mommy," th

stood

hugging a heart-shaped red pil

ide the room. "What's wrong, hmm?

, closing the distance between

y hard," she mumbled, rubbing her e

the man replied, scoopi

clung to

a bedtime story,

"Alright. But you have to promise to go to slee

romi

door inside the room opened,

eart? You're not asleep yet?"

h you and Daddy. And Daddy is go

"Of course, dear," she sai

heartwarming scene

rmed in h

ow crept in

e reached out as if to t

d hit somet

do

de that room. S

on struck her

hand sliding down the smooth wooden

nd over her mouth, forci

escaped

tears ca

ndless stre

f the tightly shut door-mourning

she had jus

g more tha

no longer be

*

hair and eyes as dark as th

he person walk

ou want to take me t

g man glanced

ve to walk me all the

s taking you to your classroom? I'm t

what I meant. Whether it's my classroom or the principal's office, you reall

ion ignored him

don't need your help with this.

, Valen, announced, stopping in

nced up a

ing R

cted them here since the pri

sighed

at you want, an

you still standing th

olled h

," he muttered as he

ck, "show a little respe

*

an'

yourself," the t

slight nod be

Gael. I hope we

. No unnecessary det

d silent, as if the students we

, chaos

ave a gir

your phone n

e your

e your h

te food? I'll cook

stepping in before the cla

e back, next to the window

comp

arrage of questions continued-m

gnored t

mediately began the lesson, successful

his chair, grateful f

ng to be a

*