"Pressure," Mrs. Stone said. "Metamorphic rocks are formed under intense heat and pressure. The earth squeezes them. It changes their structure. It turns limestone into marble. It turns coal into diamond."
Alex sat at his desk. He was examining a piece of granite.
Pressure.
He knew about pressure. The Premier League title race was heating up. Arsenal were top, but Manchester City were chasing them. Liverpool were chasing them.
Every game felt like a final. Every mistake was magnified.
"Mr. Finch," Mrs. Stone asked. "What happens if the pressure is too great?"
Alex looked up.
"It fractures, Miss," Alex said. "The rock cracks. Fault lines appear. Earthquakes happen."
"Correct," Mrs. Stone nodded. "But if the structure is strong enough, it becomes something beautiful. Something unbreakable."
Mark sat next to Alex. He was wearing a construction helmet and a high-visibility vest. He was holding a small plastic shovel.
"I AM A MINER!" Mark whispered. "I AM DIGGING FOR GOLD!"
