Adrian stared out of his office window, his thoughts tangled and restless. He couldn’t stop replaying the scene from earlier, the image of Elena crumbling in front of him etched into his mind. The words she had shouted still echoed in his ears, striking harder than he cared to admit.
“Why do you hate me? Why do you humiliate me instead of guiding me?”
His grip tightened on the edge of the window frame. He had always believed in being strict, holding students to high standards, especially those who showed potential. But he couldn’t deny that somewhere along the way, he’d let his frustrations cloud his actions. Maybe he’d been too harsh, too focused on discipline to realize the damage he was causing.
Pushing aside his pride, Adrian made up his mind. He grabbed a folder of lecture notes from his desk-the ones Elena had missed-and headed to her dorm. He didn’t know if she’d even want to see him, but he couldn’t ignore the guilt weighing on his chest.
When he knocked on her door, it took a while before it creaked open. Elena’s face peeked out, pale and guarded, her eyes rimmed with redness.
“Professor?” she asked, her voice hesitant and strained.
“I brought you the lecture notes,” Adrian said, holding up the folder. His voice was calm, but there was an edge of uncertainty he rarely displayed.
She opened the door wider, stepping aside to let him in. Her movements were slow, almost robotic, and she barely met his eyes. Adrian stepped inside, noting the room’s disarray. The desk was cluttered with papers, a tray of untouched food sat on the bedside table, and her bed was unmade.
Elena sank onto the edge of her bed, wrapping her arms around herself. “I don’t need them,” she muttered. “I’ll figure it out on my own.”
Adrian set the folder down on the desk. “You’re not fine,” he said bluntly, his tone firm but not unkind.
Her head shot up, her eyes narrowing. “What do you care? You’ve made it pretty clear what you think of me, Professor.”
The bitterness in her voice made him flinch, but he didn’t back down. “I care because I don’t want to see you destroy yourself. Whatever’s bothering you, you need to face it instead of running from it.”
Elena’s lip quivered, but she turned away, hugging her knees to her chest. “You don’t understand. Everyone expects so much from me. If I fail, I’m nothing.”
Adrian’s chest tightened at her words. He pulled out the chair by her desk and sat down, his gaze steady on her. “Who said you’re nothing?”
“No one has to say it,” she replied, her voice cracking. “It’s what I feel every day. Like no matter how hard I try, it’s never enough.”
Adrian leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Elena, you’re one of the most capable students I’ve ever taught. But pushing yourself to the point of breaking won’t prove anything to anyone. It’ll only hurt you more.”
Her shoulders trembled, and she buried her face in her arms. “I don’t know how to stop,” she whispered. “I don’t know how to not feel like this.”
For a moment, the room was silent except for her quiet sniffles. Adrian sat back, his hands clasped together as he chose his words carefully. “You don’t have to figure it all out right now. Start small. Start by letting yourself breathe.”
Elena peeked at him through tear-streaked lashes. “It’s not that easy.”
“No, it’s not,” Adrian agreed. “But it’s a start. And you don’t have to do it alone.”
Her defenses began to crumble as his words sank in. She swiped at her cheeks, her tears still falling despite her efforts. “Why are you being so… nice now?”
Adrian’s jaw tightened. “Maybe I’ve been too focused on pushing you that I forgot when to pull back. That’s on me.” He paused, meeting her gaze. “But I never hated you, Elena. Not even for a second.”
Her breath hitched, and she looked at him with wide, questioning eyes. “Then why…?”
“Because I see potential in you,” he said simply. “And I push because I know you’re capable of so much more. But that doesn’t mean I don’t care when you’re struggling.”
Elena’s lips parted as if to respond, but she closed them again, her emotions too overwhelming to put into words. She wiped at her face again, sniffling softly.
Adrian stood, straightening his jacket. “Get some rest,” he said, his tone softer now. “And eat something. Skipping meals won’t help you focus.”
Elena managed a faint smile, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Is that an order, Professor?”
He smirked slightly, grabbing the untouched tray from her desk. “Let’s call it strong advice.”
As he turned to leave, her voice stopped him.
“Wait,” she said, her tone hesitant.
He turned back, raising an eyebrow. “Yes?”
Her fingers twisted in the hem of her sweater. “Why are you doing this? Why now?”
Adrian hesitated, his expression unreadable. “Because everyone deserves a second chance, Elena. Even you.”
And with that, he left, closing the door quietly behind him.
Back in her room, Elena sat in silence, staring at the folder he had brought her. Her mind replayed their conversation, his words looping over and over.
“I never hated you.”
For the first time in weeks, the weight on her chest felt just a little lighter. Maybe she wasn’t as alone as she thought. Maybe, just maybe, she could start to believe in herself again.
Adrian walked back to his office, his thoughts heavier than before. Helping her felt like the right thing to do, but it didn’t erase the guilt. He knew he had a long way to go in earning her trust.
But as he reached his desk and sat down, he found himself smiling faintly. Maybe he didn’t have all the answers, but at least he’d taken the first step.
Elena opens the folder of notes, her fingers trembling slightly. She glances at her reflection in the window, her tear streaked face looking back at her. Slowly, she takes a deep breath, her first genuine attempt at moving forward.