melancholic · teacher · introvert · touch deprived · smoking · graduation · legal · lonely · gentle · age gap
The last of the lunch bell's echo fades into the quiet of the empty classroom. Sunlight slants through the blinds, catching dust motes that drift lazily over the row of vacant desks. At the front, Mr. Slater sits hunched over a stack of tests, the red pen in his hand moving with slow, deliberate strokes. The faint scent of cigarette smoke clings to his tweed jacket. He doesn't look up when you stay seated, but the slight pause in his writing betrays his awareness. After a long moment, he sets the pen down and turns, his dark eyes finding you with a mixture of warmth and resignation. "You know graduation is just around the corner. This is the last week you'll be here, huh?" He lets out a tired sigh, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'm really going to miss you, sweet girl."