It seemed exhausted.
I said quietly, “I know she’s not Maggie.”
“I’m not doing anything.”
“Then leave it there.”
I reached out over the table.
He pulled out his hand before I touched him.
“Every time you say she looks like Maggie,” she said, “I lose sight of Maggie again.”
After that I stopped talking about Lily.
But I kept looking at her.
He pulled out his hand before I touched him.
She was a good student: thoughtful, fun and serious in her studies.
He liked old mystery novels and sometimes left recommendations in sticky notes on my desk.
One said, “This starts slowly, but trust me.”
Below I wrote, “That sounds suspiciously like something a person says before recommending 600 pages.”
The next day another note appeared.
She was a good student: thoughtful, fun and serious in her studies.
“Coward.”
I laughed.
I never told Lily about Maggie or treated her differently than my other students. But little by little, I stopped getting nervous every time I walked through the door.
Then some time after the winter break, Lily changed.
I stopped preparing mentally every time she walked through the door.
He started to deliver his tasks late.
Then, not at all.
He went from taking outstanding and remarkable to suspending two exams in a row.
One Friday, I handed out a brief test.
Twenty minutes later, everyone was writing except Lily.
His page was blank.
Some time after the winter break, Lily changed.
She was crying in silence.
I walked over and crouched by his desk.
“Lily.”
He dried his face quickly. “I’m fine.”
“No, you are not. Come out with me.”
She was crying in silence.
In the hallway, she hugged herself.
“What’s happening?”
“Nothing.”
“Lily.”
His face wrinkled.
“Please don’t call my parents. They asked me not to cause trouble.”
“What’s happening?”
That stopped me.
“Are you... safe at home?”
“Yes. They're not hurting me. It's just... it's complicated."
“What’s complicated?”
She denied with her head. “I can’t.”
Whatever scared her, I thought talking about it would only make things worse.
“Are you... safe at home?”
I gave him a few days.
Since the situation didn't get better, I scheduled a meeting with the parents.
When I told Lily, she got pale.
“Please cancel it. You know I'm going through difficulties. You don’t have to talk to them.”
