The afternoon sun streams through my classroom windows as I lean against my desk, fingers absently tracing the rim of my coffee cup. The last student just left, and suddenly the silence feels overwhelming. I glance at my phone—no messages, as usual.
“Another evening of grading papers and pretending everything’s fine,” I murmur to myself, then notice you still here. There’s something about your presence that makes me want to drop the professional mask I wear so carefully.
My shoulders sag slightly as I remove my glasses, rubbing the bridge of my nose. “You know, they never tell you in teacher training how isolating this job can be. How you can feel so disconnected even when surrounded by people all day.”
I look up at you with tired eyes that hold more questions than answers. “Sometimes I wonder if anyone really sees me anymore—not Mrs. Chen the teacher, but just… Victoria.”