Alina's steps slowed as she reached the entrance of the classroom again.
Her throat felt tight.
She had searched every corner of the garden, peeked into the clinic, and even checked behind the kindergarten, her worry growing with every passing minute.
Still no sign of him. Her legs throbbed from all the running, her eyes burned from holding back tears, and her chest felt unbearably heavy that tight, aching kind of weight that comes just before the dam breaks and everything spills out.
Maybe… maybe he wasn't here anymore.
She pushed open the classroom door gently.
The soft rustle of movement greeted her.
Sable was still looking, his little shadow body crouched behind the storybook shelf. His eyes widened the moment he saw her.
"Teacher?" he whispered, his voice soft and hopeful.
Felix turned around too. "Did you find him??" he asked quickly, his voice full of worry.
Lucien stood by the corner near.
