There was no preamble, no gentle lead-in. He simply broke the news. Stunned, she returned to the classroom, steeling herself for the announcement she was about to make. She felt as though she was on the brink of an emotional collapse. She had to hold herself together.
The subsequent minutes unfolded like a hazy blur. She informed the twins that their grandfather would be picking them up, and they were thrilled at the prospect of an unexpected day off from school. Who wouldn’t be? But in reality, their circumstances were far from joyous.