Ms. Stephanie let out a weary sigh.


    That day, school had just let out. The children were supposed to wait in line for their parents to pick them up, but those two kids had wandered off somewhere she couldn''t find them. She was searching when the news broke a student had fallen down the stairs. By the time she rushed over, panic had already seized everyone.


    It was a serious incident.


    As the homeroom teacher directly responsible for both students, she immediately epted full responsibility afterward. It wasn''t just about being suspended for investigation; there were also endless questions from the Pembroke and Montgomery families.


    "But I really don''t know anything," Ms. Stephanie said, her voice t with exhaustion. "When I got there, it had already happened. Adrian was leaning over the edge—he nearly... I barely managed to grab him in time."


    She didn''t go on.


    M closed her eyes for a moment, steadying the sudden tightness in her chest, before speaking. "Thank you for telling me all this. Thank you, Ms. Stephanie."


    Ms. Stephanie said nothing.


    After a pause, she spoke again. "I''m not telling you this to ask you to fix my suspension. Letting the students run around after school was my responsibility... I just really don''t think Adrian would ever do something like this."


    He was her student.


    He''d always been a handful, but after spending so much time with him, she could see he wasn''t a bad kid at heart-just too proud. Sometimes, a bit too intense.


    But there were so many good things about him, too.


    "I know," M replied softly. "But you really shouldn''t have to take all the me. I''ll see what I can do."


    She knew perfectly well who was truly at fault.


    Those two troublemakers!


    But there was no easy way to say that out loud.


    Another silence settled between them.


    "That boy-Julian-how is he?" After a long pause, Ms. Stephanie''s voice came trembling through the phone.


    It was obvious she truly cared. M didn''t hide the truth; she repeated the doctor''s assessment of Julian''s condition, detail by detail. "Right now, he''s still under observation, but the chances of him waking up are good."


    "He''ll really wake up?"


    "He will," M said firmly.


    ...


    "That''s good... that''s good..." Ms. Stephanie whispered, her voice breaking. Suddenly, she dissolved into tears. "I was so scared-he was lying there bleeding, and I was too afraid to touch him..."


    She''d never experienced anything like this before.


    Just a short while ago, that little boy was running around, calling her "Miss, Miss," full of life. Then suddenly, he was lying there, covered in blood, motionless. She''d nearly lost it right then and there.


    Since that day, nightmares had haunted her for days on end.


    She hadn''t slept through a single night.


    "Ms. Stephanie..." M understood.


    She could imagine the sudden copse, and though she wanted offerfort, words failed her.. she simply stayed on the line, listening in silence, offering quiet reassurance here and there to let Ms. Stephanie know she was still there.


    Sometimes, you just had to let someone cry it out.


    After a long while, Ms. Stephanie finally managed, between sobs, "I''m sorry,


    Adrian''s mom. I lost control... Thank you for listening."


    "It''s all right. I know how tired you must be." M paused, then added, "Just call me M. And don''t worry about your suspension-"


    "No, don''t."


    Ms. Stephanie''s voice was hoarse. "I''ve decided to resign. I can''t go through something like this again. Maybe I''m just not cut out to be a teacher." This is too much, M thought.


    She wanted to say something, but Ms. Stephanie spoke first, "I just have one favor-when Julian wakes up, please let me know."


    "...Of course."


    M knew there was no use trying to talk her out of it now. "Whatever you decide about your career, just be sure. And please, keep my number, all right? If you ever need anything, call me. Take it as... a small thanks from me. I really am sorry."


    Ms. Stephanie didn''t quite understand why M was apologizing, but she didn''t say anything else, and hung up in a daze.


    Sensing her distress, M sat for a moment, phone in hand, deep in thought. She should really visit Ms. Stephanie at home-she clearly wasn''t coping well. The more M thought about it, the more furious she became at those two brats responsible for all this.


    Just look at the mess they''d caused!


    Honestly, if you''re sick, go to the hospital! Get your shots, take your medicine, and stop dragging everyone else into your drama. Adults are already struggling to cope what about the kids? Thank goodness Adrian was still too young to truly grasp life and death; for now, he was just showing signs of stress.


    But Julian?


    Pure tragedy.


    Did those two even realize the consequences of what they''d done?


    Still fuming, M''s phone suddenly buzzed again, urgent and insistent. She nced at the caller ID and immediately didn''t want to pick up.


    It was that troublemaker-Sophia.


    Because of what had happened, M had unblocked Sophia''s number the night before, just in case the hospital needed to reach her. She really didn''t want to answer, but worried it might be something urgent about Julian, she took a few deep breaths and finally picked up.


    "What is it?" she asked, trying to keep the impatience out of her voice.