Chapter 2 - A Morning of Silent Agony
The next morning, Arthur arrived at the depot an hour early.
He meticulously inspected his bus, making sure everything was perfect.
When he pulled up to Maya’s stop, his stomach tied itself in knots.
The door opened with a loud hiss.
Maya stepped onto the bus, keeping her head down.
Arthur noticed she was wearing a thick sweater, even though it was unusually warm outside.
She walked past him without making eye contact.
"Good morning, Maya," Arthur said softly.
She barely nodded, rushing to her usual seat in the second row.
As she sat down, she visibly flinched in pain.
Arthur’s grip on the steering wheel tightened until his knuckles turned white.
He checked the rearview mirror and saw her discreetly checking the vent.
She let out a quiet sigh of relief when she found her hidden package undisturbed.
Arthur drove the route mechanically, his protective instincts screaming loudly.
He knew he needed professional help to handle this situation.
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He decided to speak with the school counselor as soon as he dropped the kids off.
This secret was too big for a retired carpenter to carry alone.
