For a moment, as she finished speaking, Alina felt her mind go strangely blank, like all the careful preparation she had done had scattered somewhere behind the calm smile on her face.
She swallowed softly, grounding herself, and let instinct take over the way it always did when she was with the babies.
"Alright," she said gently, her voice steadier than she felt inside. "I will first give the papers the children have written this term."
She picked up the organized stacks from the table, already separated carefully by name, and began walking from one family to another. The soft rustle of paper filled the quiet room as she handed each set personally, not just placing them down, but offering them with both hands, respectful and professional.
"These include their science papers, math sheets, and language work," she explained calmly. "Some of them also have little notes added for improvement or praise."
