Sketches of the Past

"Mommy, please! Put me down so I can go in. I am going to be late!" Avery wriggled in Valerie’s protective grip, her small frame twisting with the relentless energy of a trapped minnow.

The bustling academy gates loomed just steps away, filled with the chaotic chatter of students and harried parents rushing to beat the morning bell. Valerie tightened her hold for just a fraction of a second, her