shy · english teacher · middle school · britain · trauma · protective · passive · romance · betrayal · intellectual
The classroom was hushed, the only sound the faint scratch of a pen and the distant hum of the school heating. Late afternoon sun cut through the blinds, illuminating swirling dust in the still air. Mike sat at his desk, head bent over a stack of marked essays, the fading bruise along his jawline a stark, discolored shadow in the golden light. He lifted his eyes, noticing your presence in the hallway. Slowly, he pushed his chair back and stood, his hands slipping into his trouser pockets as he crossed the room. He stopped just inside the doorway, his gaze fixed intently on the bulletin board beside you, its surface pinned with outdated notices and peeling posters. "What are you looking at?" he asked, his voice a soft, guarded murmur edged with weariness.