Chapter 2

I set down my papers and followed Mr. Miller out.

Walking past the faculty Wall of Honor in the hallway, my name stood out prominently—Wren Hall.

Once upon a time, I was the star educator at a top-tier metropolitan academy.

Every single senior cohort I led achieved a hundred percent admission rate to prestigious universities. I had a flawless record.

No matter how unruly or difficult a class was, the moment they were placed under my care, they fell right into line.

It wasn't because I was strict or terrifying; rather, I knew how to engage them using methods tailored to their specific interests.

I showed them how to find genuine joy in what seemed like mindless academic drudgery.

Because of that, people throughout the district called me the "Miracle Mentor."

Yet everything I did stemmed from my own high school homeroom teacher.

Growing up, my parents worked constantly in distant cities, leaving me starved of warmth and affection.

Caught in the throes of teenage rebellion, I resorted to acting out and getting into trouble, desperately trying to get my parents to notice me.

By the time I hit high school, I spent my days ditching class and wandering the streets.

I ignored lessons and refused to turn in homework.

In the eyes of every teacher, I was a hopeless delinquent.

Other students dreaded having their parents called in, but a call home was the one thing I desperately prayed for.

I used those extreme antics in the desperate hope of catching a glimpse of the parents I missed so much.

Yet every single attempt failed.

Soon, rumors spread among my peers that I was an abandoned child nobody wanted.

One by one, nearly every teacher gave up on me.

Except for my homeroom teacher.

Knowing my parents were never around, she personally filled the void in my heart.

She bought me new clothes and new sneakers.

She took me out for warm, hearty meals.

She sat with me for hours, patiently breaking down every difficult concept again and again.

The other faculty members mocked her for wasting her time, but she stood firm.

"Wren is a bright, incredible girl. I believe in her."

Her unwavering warmth broke through my walls.

I began studying like my life depended on it, catching up on years of missed foundation.

While others ate, I read. While others slept, I kept reading.

My efforts paid off, and I earned admission to an elite university.

At that moment, I swore to myself that I would dedicate my life to becoming an educator just like her.

After graduation, I proudly stepped onto the podium as a teacher.

I helped countless neglected kids heal their inner trauma and find their path to college.

I helped dozens of underprivileged students break the cycle of poverty and chase their dreams at top universities.

Yet everything collapsed in an instant one year ago.

I had just finished grading the evening's assignments and was heading out the front gate.

As I reached the campus gates, a middle-aged woman was kneeling on the pavement, wailing hysterically.

I took a step toward her, but a colleague abruptly yanked my arm back.

"Don't get involved, Wren."

"Her kid's a violent delinquent—vaping, drinking, street fights, you name it. The dad just got out of prison, too."

"Nobody wants to touch that kid with a ten-foot pole. Word is, he even assaults teachers when he loses his temper!"

Hearing that gave me pause.

Yet seeing the sheer despair and tears streaking her face, my heart softened.

I hurried over to help her to her feet and asked gently, "Ma'am, please stand up first. Let's talk this through calmly."

Seeing me step forward, she looked at me as if I were her personal savior, gripping my hands with desperate force.

"Ma'am! You're an angel, I can see it!"

"Please, I beg you, save my boy!"

"He's throwing his entire life away, and my husband and I poured every last dime we have into his future! If he doesn't make something of himself, we won't survive!"

She sobbed uncontrollably as she pleaded.

The teachers walking past avoided her like the plague, taking wide detours around us.

I let out a soft sigh, patted her trembling arm, and looked her in the eyes.

"Maybe... I can give it a shot."