A Chance Encounter

"So Samuel, how's your stay been? Did you miss your Aunt Sarah while you were away?" Sarah asked, kneeling down to meet the six-year-old eye-to-eye.

"Of course I did, Aunt Sarah! But Mom always changed the topic whenever I mentioned coming to see you, and you were busy too," Samuel said with a pout.

"Do you know why?" he tilted his head, curious.

Sarah chuckled. "It's best if we focus on getting you settled in for your school admission process, okay? That's going to take all your brain cells!" she said, giving his hair a playful ruffle.

Samuel giggled. "Fine, fine! But let's go find out about it soon, okay?"

Sarah helped him into the car, her face momentarily clouding over. She quickly masked it though, focusing on driving to the school.

As they arrived, the school entrance buzzed with activity. "Samuel, why don't you wait for me near the gate while I park the car? Don't run off, alright?" Sarah instructed.

"Okay, Aunt Sarah! Take your time. I'll be fine," he replied, clutching his iPad.

Samuel opened his iPad, engrossed in a game, when a bump from behind sent him tumbling to the ground. "Ouch! Watch where you're going!" he exclaimed, brushing himself off.

"Oh, I'm so sorry! Are you hurt?" a man's voice apologized.

"I'm fine," Samuel grumbled, more annoyed than injured. "Just watch where you're walking!"

"I apologize again," the man said, his voice sounding troubled. "I was distracted by something on my phone."

"That's not an excuse to bump into people!" Samuel retorted.

"You're right, little one," the man replied gently. "I'll be more careful."

He reached out to ruffle Samuel's hair, but the boy flinched away. "Don't touch me!" he snapped.

"Wow, quite the feisty one at such a young age," the man remarked, a hint of surprise in his voice. "I wonder how your parents manage."

Samuel puffed out his chest with pride. "My mom's pretty chill, actually. The opposite of me."

"And your dad, little one?" the man probed gently.

Samuel's face fell. "He doesn't exist," he mumbled, his voice barely above a whisper.

The man's eyebrows shot up. "He doesn't exist? What do you mean?"

"He doesn't exist," Samuel repeated, his voice firm despite the tremor in his lip. "The end of the story."

Before the man could press further, Sarah arrived, her face a mask of worry. "Samuel! What happened? Are you alright?" she exclaimed, noticing the blood staining his knee.

"Just a scrape, Aunt Sarah," Samuel said, trying to shrug it off. "Not even a big deal. And I haven't had my Americano yet, so I'm grumpy."

Sarah's brow furrowed. "Americano? You're a child, you shouldn't be drinking that stuff." She flicked his forehead playfully, despite her concern.

"Sarah?" the man's voice startled both of them. "What are you doing here?"

"You? What are you doing here?" Sarah countered, her voice laced with irritation.

"I asked you first, Sarah! Don't turn the tables on me," the man replied, his tone defensive.

"This is a school, not your playground, Aaron. And if you want to enroll a child, you need to be married, which clearly you're not," Sarah retorted, her sarcasm dripping like honey.

"Says the woman who also isn't married and doesn't have children. What are you doing here then?" Aaron countered, mirroring her words.

"My business is none of your concern. Just do what you came for and stay away from me," Sarah snapped, her anger simmering beneath the surface.

"Why are you still so furious after all this time?" Aaron sighed, his voice tinged with weariness.

"Time doesn't heal all wounds, Aaron. I haven't forgotten what you did," Sarah said, her eyes flashing with anger.

"I've told you a hundred times, I did nothing wrong!" Aaron raised his voice, drawing unwanted attention.

"Samuel, stay behind me," Sarah instructed, shielding her nephew from the escalating conflict.

"Who is he, Aunt? Why's he bothering you?" Samuel asked, his voice filled with concern.

"We're leaving," Sarah announced, grabbing Samuel's hand and attempting to walk away.

"Wait! You know where she is, Sarah. I need to find her," Aaron pleaded, his desperation evident.

"She doesn't want you to find her. Leave it be, Aaron," Sarah warned, her voice laced with steel.

"No! I know you know something," Aaron insisted, his grip tightening on her arm.

"Let go of me!" Sarah hissed, her eyes blazing with fury.

"Aunt, who is he? Why was he so persistent?" Samuel asked, his voice laced with curiosity.

"Just someone I used to know, honey," Sarah mumbled, her gaze fleeting towards the man. "Ignore him."

"May I meet the principal, please? I have an appointment," Sarah said, approaching the reception desk.

"Certainly. In what name is the appointment scheduled?" the receptionist inquired.

"Liah," Sarah answered, a hint of hesitation in her voice.

"Liah Williamson?" the receptionist confirmed.

"Yes," Sarah replied, her eyes flitting towards the man who still lingered nearby.

"Of course. Follow me, please. I'll lead you to the principal's office." The receptionist gestured towards the hallway, but before Sarah could take a step, the man intervened.

"I have an appointment with the principal as well," he announced.

"What's the name, sir?" the receptionist addressed him.

"Aeron Hermes," he stated, his eyes fixed on Sarah.

"Not you?" Sarah challenged, her tone laced with suspicion.

"It's the name of my brother," he clarified, offering a thin smile.

"Ah, I see. Well, you two can go together if you wish," the receptionist suggested. "The principal has another appointment soon, and it would be best to finish both interviews quickly."

"But—" Sarah began, about to protest.

"Come now, let's just get it over with," the man interjected, ushering Sarah towards the principal's office before she could object further.

"What now? Joining him means the end of it all. Liah had warned me not to interfere, but here I am, entangled with him again, and worse, with Sam in tow. God, how do I navigate this mess?" Sarah thought, her fists clenched tight.