When I stepped into the classroom, the energy shifted. Conversations fell silent. Jaden sat alone in the back, head bowed, hands clenched tightly in his lap. The cap shadowed his face, but even from across the room, I could sense his discomfort — the stillness that comes not from defiance, but from fear.
“Hey, Jaden,” I said gently. “Come with me for a minute.”
“Jaden,” I began softly, “you know the rule about hats in class. But if there’s a reason you want to keep it on, I’ll listen. You can trust me.”
He hesitated for a long moment, then whispered, “Please… don’t make me take it off.”
Continue reading…
