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“I’ve already done the reading for this week.” My gaze slid to the voice, and Cassandra smiled suggestively at me. I didn’t like it— the way she undressed me with her eyes.
“So, you’ve blatantly disregarded the syllabus? Do try to stay on track, Ms. Miller.” A few choked laughs sounded from around the room, but I ignored them as I looked at the door again.
Winnie hadn’t dropped the class, so I knew she should’ve been here. But why wasn’t she? Had something happened?
“Now, can anyone tell me what happens in book one of Paradise Lost?” A few hands lifted, including Cassandra’s, but I ignored her and picked another student. Their words meant nothing to me, though. They were nothing but a dull drone in the background of my worry.
I watched the door handle move, and a bolt of excitement shot through me. The door opened, and Winnie shot in, looking like she’d just walked out of a tornado. Her hair was a whirlwind, her cheeks flushed as if she’d been running, her eyes swollen and glassy as if she’d been…
As if she’d been crying.
Rage threatened to close my throat, the need to slaughter whatever had caused her enough pain to make her cry was the only thing I could focus on. Before I knew what I’d done, I was standing before her.
“Are you okay?” I asked, her massive eyes looking up at me before looking at the rest of the class. But I didn’t care about them. I cared about her. “Winona. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, Professor,” she murmured. Her hand tightened around the strap of her messenger bag, her gaze still on the students. I shifted my body, blocking them from her view. Her throat bobbed as she swallowed and lifted her eyes to look at me.
“You can tell me?—”
“I said I’m fine,” she muttered, storming past me, her hurried footsteps echoing in the silent classroom.
My heart sank as a mix of concern and frustration filled me. Why had she been crying? Who hurt her? I knew I shouldn’t have rushed to her the way I had, but her tears had caught me off guard. A desperate ache formed in my chest. I needed to know what was wrong. I needed to make it better.
With my hands clenched into tight fists, I ignored the stares from my students as I made my way back to my desk. Unease festered within me, gnawing at my insides like a relentless beast. I had to find out what happened to her. Maybe I was growing soft, or maybe I was becoming too attached to her, but I hated seeing her cry. I just wanted to take away her pain.
As I leaned against my desk, I lifted my head, scanning the rows of students. Winnie was at her usual spot in the back, but instead of huddling in on herself as she often did, she was staring right at me.
The book shook as she lifted it. A smile tugged at the corner of my lips at the utter shock in her eyes.
"Thank you," she mouthed, and I dipped my chin, unable to hide my smile anymore.
W,
I promised to give this to you, and I always keep my promises.
Yours Truly,
E
A blush crept into her cheeks, and I shook myself, feeling everyone's eyes on me. "Let's continue, shall we?"
I lectured as I always did, but for some reason, today felt different. I felt lighter, my chest felt warmer. Happiness. That's what it was.
I kept the students' attention rapt the entire time, finding that everyone seemed engaged. Even the kids behind Winnie seemed to pay attention to my every word.
Class ended all too soon, and everyone packed their things up. But Winnie lingered, taking her time as she put her belongings into her bag.
"Great class today, professor," Cassandra's voice pulled my attention from Winnie, and I blinked.
"Thank you, Ms. Miller." I looked away, refocusing on Winnie. If looks could kill, Cassandra would be a pile of ash. It seems my little fawn had a fiery side to her; she wasn't all sweet and innocent, was she? Something darker lurked inside her. Would her darkness play nice with mine?
"I didn't mean to upset you," Cassandra said, and I all but groaned as I looked back at her.
"I'm sorry?"
"For reading ahead on the syllabus."
"Oh, that's alright. If you'll excuse me?—"
