Chapter Thirteen #2
We talked for another twenty minutes before ending the call, and by the time I set the phone down, returning to school felt more real than it had before.
The rest of Saturday passed in a combination of lesson planning, laundry, and Elyssa hovering while insisting she wasn't hovering.
Oliver seemed unconcerned by any of it and spent most of the afternoon sprawled near my feet as though guarding me from poor decisions.
By Sunday evening, after spending the weekend, Elyssa had packed the belongings she had gradually spread through my apartment since coming to stay after the accident.
She did it reluctantly, pausing every few minutes to inspect cupboards, check supplies, and remind me where things were stored as though I hadn’t lived alone for years before she arrived.
I let her continue because the fussing made her feel useful, and because a part of me understood that moving back to her own apartment felt strange after everything she’d done for me.
"You know I can still come back," she informed, folding the last of her clothes into a bag.
"I know."
"I mean it."
"I know you do."
"If you need anything, you call."
"I will."
"If your leg hurts, call."
"I will."
"If you start pretending you're fine when you're not, I'll know."
I smiled.
"That sounds ominous."
"It should."
She zipped the bag and looked around the room one final time.
"I'll pick you up tomorrow morning at seven."
"I know."
"And I'll drop you home afterward."
"I know."
"And I'll check in during lunch."
"Elyssa."
"What?"
"I love you."
Her expression softened immediately.
"I love you too."
"That's why I'm allowed to be bossy."
We hugged each other tight but the moment lasted only a few seconds before she cleared her throat and reached for her bag.
When she finally left, the apartment felt quieter than it had in weeks.
Oliver went with her, leaving behind only a few stray golden hairs and the strange absence of his enthusiastic supervision.
I moved through the space slowly, putting away a few items she’d missed and adjusting to the reality of being alone again.
I had wanted this independence back, yet I couldn't deny that her presence had made the difficult parts easier.
Monday morning arrived with a combination of anticipation and nerves. Elyssa appeared exactly when promised, carrying coffee and enough reminders to fill an instruction manual.
The drive to school felt familiar, although returning after weeks away made everything seem slightly different. By the time we pulled into the staff parking lot, I had already been reminded three separate times not to overdo things.
"You know I'm capable of sitting down."
"Your history suggests otherwise."
"My history is being unfairly interpreted."
Elyssa parked the car and switched off the engine.
"Your history has being accurately documented."
I laughed despite myself and gathered my things. Together we headed toward the building along with dozens of other staff and students arriving for the start of the day. Several people noticed me almost immediately.
"Miss Brown!"
A group of students waved enthusiastically from across the courtyard while another called out a greeting before hurrying toward homeroom.
Inside the building, the reactions continued. Colleagues stopped to welcome me back, ask how I was feeling, and offer assistance I had no intention of accepting unless absolutely necessary.
"It's good to see you."
"It's good to be back."
One of the administrative staff looked at my boot and shook her head.
"I didn't expect to see you back this soon."
"I wasn't sure I'd be back this soon either."
The comment generated several similar responses as we continued toward the staff area. More than one teacher expressed surprise that only three weeks had passed since the accident, while others immediately reminded me not to overdo things. By the time
By the time Elyssa disappeared toward her own classroom, I had accepted that the adults in my life were only marginally less intrusive than my students were about to be.
My classroom had been rearranged exactly as promised.
My desk sat where I could see the room clearly without needing to move often, and a spare chair had been placed near the front for moments when I wanted to teach closer to the board.
A stack of papers waited beside my laptop, along with a card signed by several staff members.
The first group of students arrived noisily but the noise stopped when they saw me. Then the questions began.
"Miss Brown, are you actually back to stay?"
"Obviously she's back, Liam."
"Did your leg break in half?"
"Did it make a sound?"
"Did the airbags punch you?"
"Was there blood everywhere?"
I raised one hand.
"Good morning, everyone."
My greeting achieved absolutely nothing.
"Did firefighters have to cut you out?"
"Did the car explode?"
"Cars don't explode like that."
"They do in movies."
"This wasn't a movie."
I waited until the argument lost momentum, then pointed toward their seats.
"Sit down, please."
Several students obeyed immediately while others continued staring at my CAM walker as though it might begin speaking.
Once everyone settled, I positioned myself beside the desk and looked across the room.
Their curiosity was exactly what I had expected.
Twelve-year-olds possessed very little ability to ignore dramatic information, especially when their teacher had been absent because of a car accident.
"I know you have questions."
Nearly every hand shot into the air.
"I'll answer a few appropriate questions before we begin the lesson."
Several hands lowered immediately, which told me quite a lot about what those students had planned to ask.
Maya kept hers raised.
"Were you scared?"
The classroom quieted because the question carried more sincerity than spectacle.
"Yes, I was scared when I lost control of my car."
She nodded slowly.
"But people helped you?"
"Yes. Firefighters, paramedics, doctors, nurses, and my friends all helped me during the time I was off school."
Liam raised his hand again.
"Did they use the jaws of life?"
"They used rescue tools to get me out safely."
"That's the jaws of life."
"That is one name people use."
He looked satisfied with that answer.
A boy near the back raised his hand.