She looked at each tiny head bent over their work, her chest tightening with quiet affection. I hope time slows down, she thought. I want to cherish every single moment with them.
Her gaze softened further when she remembered Dante's mention of the upcoming parent meeting. The idea made her heart flutter with excitement. She couldn't wait to meet the families of these babies, to tell them how much their children had grown, how brave, kind, and curious they had become.
The thought filled her with warmth, and as she glanced back at her students—Drake counting on his chubby hands, Kelpie humming softly while solving problems, and Boo pretending to faint over numbers—Alina smiled, feeling her heart swell with a simple, profound joy.
