The First Step Forward

Morning light filled the kitchen softly. Nathaniel sat straight in his chair, already dressed in his neat school uniform. He checked the inside of his schoolbag for the third time, making sure everything was in place. The bag looked a little too big for his small shoulders, but his hazel eyes shone with excitement.

Charlotte sat next to him, her toast untouched. She leaned on Alina's arm, her small fingers tracing her plate. The kitchen smelled like warm milk.

"Charlotte, eat just a few more bites," Alina said, moving the plate closer.

Charlotte wrinkled her nose. "I'm not hungry."

Nathaniel leaned toward her, trying to make her look up. “If you don’t eat, you’ll faint in class. Then everyone will carry you around like a princess.”

Charlotte gave him a weak, annoyed look, but a tiny smile appeared on her face. She took a small bite of toast.

“You might feel hungry later,” Agnes said kindly, setting a small plate of fruit in front of them. “First days can make your tummy feel funny.”

Wilfred came in quietly, holding two bright stickers.

"Look what I found," he said with a soft laugh. "One for each of you. Put them on your notebooks; they'll help with the nerves."

Charlotte reached out first, a small smile tugging at her lips, while Nathaniel followed, carefully pressing his sticker flat.

Wilfred looked at Alina and spoke quietly. “They’ll be alright,” he said.

Alina nodded gently. “Thank you, Wilfred.”

“Is everything ready?” she asked.

"The car is waiting, ma'am," Wilfred replied. "I've checked their things twice. Agnes packed their snacks."

Nathaniel closed his bag with a little sigh, ready now. Charlotte slipped her hand into Alina's under the table, holding on tight.

"Are you nervous?" Nathaniel asked her.

Charlotte looked sideways. "A little."

“You’ll like it,” he said quietly. “It’s like the park, just with more kids.”

Alina stood, smoothing her dress, and reached for Nathaniel's hand with her free one.

"Come on," she said gently. "Let's go make some new stories."

The school gates looked tall and bright, the building framed by young trees. Wilfred stepped out first to open the car door, calm and steady as always. Agnes leaned forward from the front seat and whispered, “Be brave, both of you. We’ll have snacks waiting when you come home.”

Charlotte nodded, but she still held Alina's hands tight.

Inside, the headmaster waited at the entrance. Mr. Ellis looked to be in his early fifties, his silver hair neatly combed, his suit simple but clean. He shook Alina’s hand warmly, his eyes resting on her just a moment longer than expected.

“Ms. Hart,” he said. “We’re honored to welcome Nathaniel and Charlotte. Everything is prepared as discussed. Their records are in place, and only a few staff members will know what they need to."

"Thank you, Mr. Ellis," Alina replied, her voice calm. "I appreciate your discretion."

His eyes softened. "Children like them... they don't come by often. Nathaniel especially, his assessments are impressive for his age."

Alina gave a small, polite smile. "Today isn't about expectations. It's about letting them settle in."

He showed them down the hall. “Of course. Miss Rowe is waiting for Charlotte. Nathaniel will join his class after.”

Miss Rowe was younger than Alina expected, maybe in her mid-twenties, with tidy hair and a clean, pressed shirt. Her smile was polite, but her eyes moved from Charlotte to Alina, taking in Alina’s neat dress and the calm, careful way both children stood, an unspoken hint of quiet wealth she didn’t need to explain.

“She’s lovely,” Miss Rowe said, crouching a little to Charlotte’s eye level. “And you must be Nathaniel.”

Nathaniel nodded politely. Charlotte stepped closer to Alina, clutching her bag.

"She's a little shy at first," Alina said gently, crouching down to her daughter's level. "But she loves stories and she's kind to everyone."

Miss Rowe's smile tightened a little, almost too quickly. “We’ll help her settle.”

Alina noticed the slight change, maybe some discomfort or even dislike, but she ignored it. It was the first day, and everyone felt nervous.

The classroom was already half full. A few boys looked at Charlotte with curiosity, while a group of girls whispered by the window. One of them, Maya Brooks, with a neat braid, stared for a moment before looking away.

Charlotte slid into her seat, her feet swinging above the floor. A few doors down, Nathaniel had already joined a group of older boys, their heads bent over a small wooden brain teaser. His fingers traced the pieces lightly, as if he already knew how it fit together.

Alina stepped into Charlotte's classroom doorway, offering her a gentle smile. "I'll be right here if you need me," she said softly.

Nathaniel looked over from the hallway and gave a small nod. “We’ll be fine, Mom,” he said, sounding much older than five.

Charlotte held her notebook tightly. “You promise you’ll come back?”

“Always,” Alina said, giving her hand one last squeeze before stepping back.

Outside, Wilfred waited by the car, holding the door open. Agnes leaned out just enough to catch Alina’s expression.

“How did they do?” she asked.

“They were brave,” Alina whispered, looking back through the glass doors. Nathaniel was already leaning over a desk, pointing excitedly at something, while Charlotte sat a little apart, her shoulders tense, trying to look braver than she felt.

Alina’s chest tightened, the same soft ache she’d felt since the day they were born. This was their first step, the start of a world she couldn’t fully protect them from anymore.

Once they were all inside the car, Wilfred glanced at her through the mirror. “Where to next, ma’am?” he asked gently.

“To Riverbend,” Alina said quietly, settling back in her seat.

As the car drove away, she looked back one last time. For a moment, she wished she could go back in time. But then she remembered why they were here, and how far they had already come.