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“How are you?” She brushed back the hair from my face and cupped my cheek “Come inside; it’s so cold The kids are so excited”

She pulledoffto waroldfish crackers, and construction paper always brought back so hts I wasn’t norhter and joy bounced off the walls and poured out of every nook and cranny of the house

“They’re energetic as usual and ready to show you what they remember from last time”

“Perfect” I stepped through the doorway The kids screa me I crouched down and was nearly bowled over by the kiddie sta a rock star feels like? “I can’t wait to see what you all remember, and I hope you’re ready for some fun today”

Cheers and even y?

With everyone bouncing off the walls half an hour later, I ended our lesson I’d put theular classes when it caet tired Giving them a curtsy with my sheer ballet skirt, I let their teacher take over

I grabbedand walked into Sylvia’s office, a small room off the kitchen When they’d lived there, it had been the TV roo for Colame Those childhood memories of freshly baked cookies, ht and innocent Then things had gotten coainst her open door

“I’ve got some hot chocolate with mini ry” She popped up from her desk

My stomach rumbled

“Sounds like you are” Her laughter was always so full of life and happiness

I followed her back into the kitchen “You don’t have toon the way back to campus”

“Nonsense, of course I’ll ” She spun around with the jar of o I can whip up so quickly and you can take it with you”

The only thing waiting for me back at home was a pile of coursework that made my brain hurt Marisa was at the library and then off to her torture dinner with her dad Going bac

k to an e there with Sylvia?

“There’s nowhere else I’d rather be”