Alina sat in the staffroom for a while longer, correcting a few papers with focus. Every now and then, a small smile crept onto her lips as she recalled the babies' expressions, their concentration, their tiny victories. Once she was done, she slid the papers back into their folders neatly. There was no rush today. With the holidays approaching, time finally felt gentle instead of pressing.
Her fingers tapped lightly against the folder as a familiar thought returned.
She wanted to tell Dante.
About the exam. About how well the babies had done. About the strange, vivid experience she had felt while trying to focus her mind, the colors, the auras, the feeling that something inside her had stirred. The thought alone made her chest feel warm and nervous at the same time.
Before she could overthink it, she stood up.
