Chapter 2: The Teacher Who Refused to Leave
"Emily, sweetheart, why haven't you been coming to school?""
Mrs. Collins stood on our porch holding a blue folder.
Her brown hair was pulled into a loose bun, and she wore the same silver earrings she always wore during class.
I stared at her.
For a moment, I forgot how to speak.
Then I heard Linda behind me.
"Emily, who is it?""
My teacher looked past my shoulder.
"Good morning. I'm Mrs. Collins, Emily's third-grade teacher.""
Linda's expression changed immediately.
Not dramatically.
Just enough.
Her lips parted, and she placed one hand against the doorframe.
"Oh! Mrs. Collins. What a surprise.""
She gave me a sharp look.
"Emily, why didn't you tell me your teacher was coming?""
I wanted to say that I hadn't known.
I wanted to tell Mrs. Collins that I had been waiting for someone to find me.
Instead, I stepped backward.
Linda smiled.
"Please, come in.""
Mrs. Collins entered, but her eyes remained on me.
"Emily, we've missed you.""
Linda laughed softly.
"She's been having a difficult few weeks. You know how children can be.""
Mrs. Collins opened her folder.
"Actually, that's why I'm here. Emily has been absent for eleven consecutive school days.""
Linda blinked.
"Eleven?""
"Yes.""
"That can't be right.""
Mrs. Collins turned a page.
"Her last recorded attendance was October seventeenth.""
Linda touched her forehead.
"Oh, goodness. She's been quite unwell. I thought Mark had contacted the school.""
Mrs. Collins looked up.
"Has she been sick?""
Linda hesitated.
"Well, stomachaches. Headaches. Some behavioral difficulties.""
I stared at the carpet.
There had been no stomachaches.
No headaches.
Not one day.
Mrs. Collins crouched beside me.
"Emily, can I ask you something?""
Linda answered before I could.
"Of course. But she's been very emotional lately.""
My teacher ignored her.
"Did you want to come to school?""
I looked at Linda.
She was smiling.
But her fingers were digging into her own palm.
I nodded.
Mrs. Collins waited.
"Can you tell me why you haven't been coming?""
My throat tightened.
"I...""
Linda interrupted.
"Emily, remember what we discussed? We don't make up stories.""
Something inside me went cold.
Mrs. Collins stood.
"Perhaps we should speak privately.""
Linda laughed again.
"There's really no need. I'm very open with Emily. We don't have secrets in this family.""
Mrs. Collins looked at me.
Then she looked at Linda.
"Actually, I'd like to speak with her alone for a few minutes.""
For the first time, Linda's smile disappeared completely.
She eventually allowed Mrs. Collins to sit with me at the kitchen table.
But she didn't go far.
She remained in the living room, pretending to fold laundry while listening to every word.
Mrs. Collins took a small notebook from her bag.
"Emily, I'm not angry with you.""
I nodded.
"You're not in trouble.""
I nodded again.
"Did someone tell you that you couldn't come to school?""
My eyes filled with tears.
I looked toward the living room.
Mrs. Collins followed my gaze.
Then she lowered her voice.
"You can tell me the truth.""
I pressed my fingers together.
"Linda takes my backpack.""
Mrs. Collins stopped writing.
"What?""
"She hides it. And she makes me stay home with Noah.""
My teacher's face became very still.
"Every day?""
I nodded.
"She says I have to help. She gives me chores.""
"How long has this been happening?""
"I don't know.""
"Does your father know?""
I shook my head.
"Linda tells him I don't want to go.""
Mrs. Collins put her pen down.
"Emily, does Linda ever hurt you?""
I thought about the mornings when she grabbed my arm.
The times she pulled my workbook away.
The way she stood in front of the door.
"I don't know," I whispered.
My teacher's eyes softened.
"What do you mean?""
"She doesn't hit me. She just... makes me do things.""
I started crying.
"I want my mom.""
Mrs. Collins reached across the table and gently held my hand.
"Oh, honey.""
Then I remembered something.
I pushed my chair back and ran toward the hallway.
Linda immediately looked up.
"Where are you going?""
"My backpack.""
"Why?""
I didn't answer.
I pulled it from behind the coats and opened the front pocket.
My fingers found the folded paper.
I brought it back and placed it in Mrs. Collins's hand.
She unfolded it.
I watched her read the four sentences.
Her lips pressed together.
Then she looked at me.
"Emily, did you write this?""
I nodded.
"Yesterday?""
I shook my head.
"A few days ago.""
Mrs. Collins folded the note carefully and slipped it into her folder.
"Thank you for trusting me.""
From the living room, Linda stood abruptly.
"That's enough.""
Mrs. Collins looked toward her.
"I'm sorry?""
"I think this visit has gone far enough. Emily has a habit of exaggerating things when she wants attention.""
Mrs. Collins closed her folder.
"I'm going to need to speak with her father.""
"Mark works long hours. He's very busy.""
"Then I'll arrange a time that works for him.""
Linda crossed her arms.
"There's no reason to involve him in this.""
Mrs. Collins stood.
"He's her father. He absolutely needs to know.""
For a moment, neither woman moved.
Then Linda smiled.
It was the same smile she used whenever Dad came home.
"Of course. I'll tell him you stopped by.""
Mrs. Collins shook her head.
"I'd prefer to speak with him directly.""
She turned toward me.
"I'll see you soon, Emily.""
I wanted to ask her not to leave.
I wanted to hold her coat and beg her to take me somewhere safe.
But I didn't.
I stood at the doorway until she reached her car.
Before getting inside, she turned around and gave me a small wave.
I waved back.
Then Linda closed the front door.
The moment the lock clicked, she grabbed my backpack.
"What did you tell her?""
I backed away.
"Nothing.""
"Don't lie to me.""
"I didn't!""
She opened the front pocket and searched through it.
The note was gone.
Her face changed.
"Where is it?""
I didn't answer.
She searched the other pockets.
Then she looked at me.
"Emily, what did you give that woman?""
My heart pounded.
"Nothing.""
Linda stepped closer.
"Listen carefully. Your father is already exhausted. If that teacher puts ridiculous ideas into his head, you will be the reason this family falls apart.""
I began crying.
"I just want to go to school.""
She laughed without humor.
"You think school is going to take care of your brother? You think your teacher is going to cook dinner? You think she'll pay the bills?""
I wiped my face.
"I don't know.""
"Exactly.""
She pointed upstairs.
"Go clean Noah's room.""
I obeyed.
But something was different.
For the first time, someone outside our house knew.
That evening, Dad came home carrying a paper bag of groceries.
Linda greeted him with a kiss.
"How was work?""
"Long.""
She took the bag.
"Emily's teacher came by today.""
Dad looked up.
"Mrs. Collins?""
"Yes. Apparently, she's concerned about Emily's attendance.""
Dad frowned.
"Why?""
Linda sighed.
"Emily has been telling her things.""
"What things?""
"That I don't let her go to school.""
Dad stopped removing his jacket.
"Why would she say that?""
Linda's eyes filled with tears.
"Because she's angry with me. I've been trying to discipline her, and she doesn't like it.""
Dad looked toward the staircase.
"Where is Emily?""
"Upstairs. Probably sulking.""
He called my name.
I came down slowly.
"Yes, Daddy?""
He looked tired.
"Did you tell your teacher Linda won't let you go to school?""
I glanced at Linda.
She was standing beside the refrigerator.
Watching.
I nodded.
Dad closed his eyes.
"Emily, why would you say something like that?""
"Because it's true.""
Linda made a small crying sound.
Dad looked at her.
Then back at me.
"Your stepmother says you've been helping with Noah because you've been refusing school.""
I shook my head.
"She hides my backpack.""
"Emily...""
"She makes me stay home!""
Dad's voice rose.
"That's enough!""
I flinched.
Linda immediately stepped toward him.
"Mark, please. She's only eight.""
But Dad wasn't looking at Linda anymore.
He was staring at me.
"How many times have you lied about this?""
I couldn't answer.
Then Linda said something that made my stomach turn.
"Maybe we should ask Noah's pediatrician. He's been getting sick lately, and I've been worried about how Emily handles him.""
I looked up.
"What?""
Dad turned toward her.
"What do you mean?""
Linda wiped her eyes.
"Nothing. I don't want to accuse her of anything.""
My mouth fell open.
I had never hurt Noah.
Not once.
But Linda had just planted a new suspicion in Dad's mind.
And I could see him beginning to believe it.
Then his phone rang.
He answered.
It was Mrs. Collins.
I watched his expression change as he listened.
Finally, he said:
"Wait. You're telling me you have something Emily wrote?""
Linda went completely still.
Dad looked at me.
May you like
Then he asked the question that would change everything.
"Mark here. What exactly did my daughter write on that paper?""
