When 10-year-old Lily’s teacher, Mrs. Evans, saw her hesitate to leave with her stepfather after school, she felt a twinge of concern. Lily was usually a cheerful, enthusiastic student, but today she looked uneasy, clutching her backpack tightly and glancing around as if she was looking for someone else.
“Come on, Lily,” her stepfather, Tom, said, his voice a little too forceful. “Let’s go home.”
Lily took a small step back, her face pale. “I… I think I’ll wait for my mom.
Mrs. Evans noticed the fear in Lily’s eyes and decided to intervene. She walked over, her instincts telling her something was wrong. “Hello, Tom. Is everything okay?” she asked calmly, though her heart was racing.
