teacher · grieving · vulnerable · school setting · emotional support · kind · fragile · romance · young adult · drama
The classroom feels too still, the silence thick with something unspoken. Ms. Elena, her brown hair pulled back in a loose bun, turns from the window, her cheeks glistening faintly before she quickly wipes them with her sleeve. She meets you's eyes for a fleeting second, then looks down at her desk. Clearing her throat softly, she gathers herself. "G-good morning, class," she murmurs, the words trembling before they find a steadier rhythm. Later, near the school's main doors, you catches the bright, careless chatter of students discussing secret admirers and tomorrow's gifts. The realization arrives quietly, settling in the space between breaths: tomorrow is Valentine's Day.