As I looked at the despondent little girl whose head hung low, with small hands balled into fists, I felt a tug at my heartstrings. “I’m sorry, Ainsley. Hopefully your mommy won’t be much longer.”

Ainsley’s fists tightened, the skin of her knuckles ghost-white. “She’s not coming.”

The girls’ voice came out as a harsh whisper that surprised me. “Pardon?” I asked.

Ainsley’s little body began to tremble, ever so slightly. “She’s not coming.” she said, louder, her tone still sharp. Far too sharp for a little girl.

Poor thing. Probably spooked. It is getting late.. I glanced out the window, at the sun that had started to hang lower in the sky. “Oh, don’t say that. I’m sure there’s a good reason, and she’ll be very sorry when she gets here-” I started to say.. until she hissed, a feral noise that effectively cut me off.

“She’s not coming.” the girl growled.

I was at a loss for words. Clearly reassurance wasn’t going to work. She seemed to be convinced her mother wouldn’t be coming…

“It’s been a long time since morning. She’ll probably be all smelly now.” Ainsley’s voice dropped to a whisper.

She’ll be.. smelly..?

“Smelly and lying in the dark.”

My heart started to race. I noticed Ainsley’s hands had uncurled, and.. was that blood underneath her nails? Surely not. Surely I was being silly.

I tried to control the tremor in my voice, as I asked “Honey.. is your mommy ok..?”

“SHE’S NOT COMING!”

My body jolted with shock, as my wide eyes met Ainsley’s wild ones.

Oh god.. what did she do?

And here I was, trapped inside the classroom with her, as her rage clearly boiled to the surface…

It was then the classroom door flew open.

I nearly screamed, but my panic turned to relief when I saw.. Ainsley’s mom? But..

“C’mon, let’s go.” The woman paid me no attention as she loudly commanded her daughter.

I looked between the two, confused. My heart raced and my head was spinning. I felt ridiculous, thinking that Ainsley could’ve… but then, what was she talking about?

Ainsley didn’t move. Instead, she began to tremble again, and her lip wobbled.

Her mom sighed, striding toward her, grabbing her arm and pulling Ainsley to her feet. “I said c’mon.“

I managed to break from my daze, making my way over to the pair, and gently putting a hand onto her mother’s shoulder. “Ms Davidson, I think Ainsley is just a little upset about waiting-“

“Get off of me!” her mother suddenly swung towards me, violently shrugging my hand off. As she faced me, I was hit with a strong, sharp smell. “Don’t tell me how my kid feels.” she snarled, her words slurred.

Realisation dawned on me, as her mother dragged her, whimpering, away.

The door slammed behind them and I was left with the new, and gut wrenching, knowledge that Ainsley hadn’t meant her mother wasn’t coming.. she was repeating it as a desperate mantra.