“Both!”
That’s what kept me breathing.
It was another Monday when everything shifted. I parked in my usual spot and whispered, “Let today matter,” before walking into the noise of the morning bell.
At 8:05, the principal appeared at my door, serious.
“Ms. Rose, may I have a word?”
She guided in a little boy clutching a green raincoat. Brown hair slightly too long. Wide, curious eyes.
“This is Theo. He just transferred.”
Theo stood quietly, holding his dinosaur backpack strap.
“Hi, Theo. I’m Ms. Rose. We’re glad you’re here.”
He shifted, then tilted his head slightly and gave a small, uneven smile.
That’s when I saw it.
A crescent-shaped birthmark beneath his left eye.
