The next day, my phone rang just before noon while I was at work.
The school’s number flashed across the screen.
A chill ran through me before I even answered.
“Hello?”
“Good afternoon,” the principal said, but there was nothing good in his tone. His voice was tight, unsettled. “I need you to come to school immediately. Something has happened, and Emma is involved.”
My body went cold.
“What happened?” I asked, already standing, already grabbing my bag.
“You need to come now.”
The line went dead.
Every terrible possibility hit me at once. Was she hurt? Had someone bullied her? Was Caleb involved? Had the shoe gift somehow embarrassed him? My hands shook so badly I nearly dropped my keys.
The drive to the school felt endless. Red lights became enemies. The world outside my windshield looked strangely normal for a day when my heart felt like it was being torn open.
When I got there, the principal was already in the hallway, waiting.
That scared me more than anything.
He stepped toward me, pale and visibly rattled. “Thank you for coming so quickly.”
“Where is my daughter?”
“She’s okay,” he said quickly. “She’s with the counselor. She’s safe.”
My knees almost gave out with relief.
“Then what is this about?”
He swallowed. “Someone is here asking for Emma. He’s sitting in my office.”
I frowned. “Who?”
“He didn’t introduce himself. He only said… that you know him.”
A strange, heavy silence settled between us.
“What do you mean, I know him?”
The principal looked deeply uncomfortable. “He refused to say more. But when he heard Emma’s name, and what happened with Caleb, he became emotional. He insisted on waiting for you.”
My pulse pounded in my ears as I reached for the office door.
I opened it.
And the world tilted.
A man stood when he saw me. Taller than I remembered. Broader. Older. A weathered face marked by time and regret.
The air left my lungs.
“No,” I whispered.
He took one hesitant step forward.
I heard my own voice rise into a scream before I could stop it.
“WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?! THIS CAN’T BE REAL!”
