The Secret He Left Behind.

he really c

piece of toast, crumbs dusting her lips. Her feet swung benea

white mug, trying to keep her voice

ady added the sugar. Her fingers trembled just a

ng down from the chair to grab her backpack. "I dr

ly. "That sounds p

to grab her shoes,

last night, she'd seen him-standing there, tall and comp

er. "Just one day," she whispered to herself. "He'll

s part of her heart

read - the famous Adrian Blackwood was back. Teachers whispered by the hallways, st

ulse quickening when she he

imary classes first," one of the teache

art

's c

cou

son to panic. She wasn't that Elena anymore. The naïve

er, sharper. He looked effortlessly out of place in the small school corridor, his navy suit pr

eacher, shaking hands politely b

ywhere. Among them, a little girl with dark curls bent o

r

rless energy kids have when they feel safe - and yet, there was a seriousness in her eyes

work, Mr. Blackwood?" the tea

quickly, clea

e Aria's table. She looked up and

re he could help i

holding up the paper. "See? That's me

ly. "You're a ve

ead, studying him

any

ter-of-factly. "You look l

t wasn't often anyone spoke to him like t

ietly. "You m

a folder for the teacher - or at least, that's what she told herself. But seeing them to

know. He h

e looked at Aria m

s phone in hand but untouched. When Elena stepped o

tely, his voice carrying

the folder against her

your daughter was

aint smile. "Yes

as he spoke. "There's something about her. She's-"

tened. "She takes a

faded. There was a pull between them - something neither

justing his cufflink. "You lo

froze.

ace as though trying to place a mem

chest. "I don't think s

head, unconvin

older, forcing a small laugh. "I'

'm not as interesting as

iling faintly, though

ard the parking lot. "It was good see

waited until he'd reached his car before letting

eady herself, a small voice

om

ng - the one she'd shown Adrian earlier. Bu

rth f

n beside

" Elena aske

"That's Mr.

omach drop

d simply, "he looke