The morning began like any other in Ms. Alvarez’s fourth-grade classroom. Sunlight streamed through the tall windows, illuminating neatly arranged desks decorated with colorful student projects. The low hum of ceiling fans mixed with quiet chatter as students settled into their work.
I sat at my desk with my notebook open, but my focus drifted. An uneasy feeling lingered, something I couldn’t quite explain. School usually meant routine—rules, lessons, and predictable schedules—but that sense of normalcy was about to change.
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