This Time, I Walked Away

"It's late. Linda's tired. She's fragile—give her the bed. We'll take the floor," Joshua said.

Linda tugged his sleeve. "You've got class tomorrow. You won't sleep right. I'll take the floor."

"You're soaked. If you don't rest, you'll get sick."

"No, you take the bed. I'll be fine."

They went back and forth like I wasn't even there.

Finally, Joshua caved. "Whatever. We'll both sleep in the bed. Come on."

I just stared, stunned.

"Joshua Ziegler! I'm still here and you're crawling into bed with another girl? Are you serious?"

He waved me off. "What, you think something's gonna happen right in front of you? Don't throw your trashy small-town mindset at us. This is just a teacher helping a student."

I pointed right at them. "Teacher-student bond, my ass. You two are just cheating trash. I'm going to the university president—see if all your students share a bed with their teaching staff!"

Linda burst into tears. "Mrs. Ziegler, if you tell him that, I'm done. I never should've come. I'll go."

She bolted.

Joshua went after her, but I stepped in with Mia.

"Move! It's dangerous out there!"

"The school's a few blocks away. She'll survive."

He slapped me.

Mia screamed, loud and piercing.

The noise drew attention—other teachers from the building peeked out.

"Mr. Ziegler, can't this wait till morning? We need to get some rest."

Joshua didn't leave after all.

Next morning, a student knocked, pale and shaken.

"Mr. Ziegler... Linda fell into the ditch last night. She didn't make it."

I braced for him to freak out, but he didn't flinch.

"Okay. Got it. Go back—you've got class."

He washed up, got dressed, grabbed his notes, and walked out like it was just another day.

The guilt hit hard. If I hadn't gone off the night before, maybe she wouldn't have run. Maybe she'd still be alive.

That night, he came home like nothing had happened. I quietly set the table.

Just as I worked up the nerve to apologize, he asked, totally casual, "Where's the money kept?"

"In the iron box by the bed. Everything's in there."

"Cool. Take some and get clothes for you and the kid."

His voice was calm, but something about him felt... off.

I didn't push it. After dinner, I took Mia out.

Grabbed the cheapest stuff I could find—and even picked up a jacket for him. The cashier said it was trendy.

Walking back in, the neighbors cooking in the hallway spotted us.

"Ooh, new clothes! Mr. Ziegler's spoiling you."

"Yeah, college-educated and actually nice? Total catch. We're all jealous."

Their words made my face go warm. For a second, I actually felt... lucky.

That night, the rain came down hard. He threw on the jacket I bought him, told me and Mia to get dressed too, then grabbed an umbrella.

"Come on. Let's eat out tonight."

"It's pouring. Can't we wait till tomorrow?"

He didn't answer—just took Mia's hand and headed out.

I followed, no questions asked.