Rebirth

Ten

A week passed as Hazel walked back into her classroom after nesting in Garrett's bed for a week while he cared for her until she could care for herself which took a while.
She looked around as she noticed a few things on her desk the substitute left and a card from all her students.
She placed her hand on her slightly swollen stomach before feeling his eyes on her.
"It's strange to be back," she said.
She looked at him.
"It makes me wonder if I should have come back.
Is that wrong?" she said as she looked into his eyes.
"No.
I have millions put away in a safe.
We can live very well without working here" he said.
"Garrett," she said.
"Where you go I go until you push me away.
Let me take care of you" he said.
"I love teaching but the stress," she said before sitting at her desk.
"Do you want to make this decision or should I?" he asked.
She looked at him.
"You," she said.
"I'll tell Natalie that we are both resigning.
Stay here" he said.
She nodded before watching him leave.
She looked around before remembering what she always used to say.
Teachers don't last long here.
They come and go.
She had been a teacher for a long time but now she was disappearing along with most of the teachers.
She placed her hand on her stomach before looking at her desk.
She couldn't be selfish anymore.
She wanted this and now she had to take responsibility.
Minutes later Natalie rushed in.
"Tell me he's lying.
You're not leaving are you?" she said.
"I am.
I love teaching but I can't deal with the stress anymore" she said.
"Is there anything I can do?
Hazel, you are my best teacher" she said.
"I'm sorry but no" Hazel said.
She shook her head "Thank you for bringing life to this place" she said before walking out.
Hazel felt tears come to her eyes.
She took a deep breath before picking up the card on her desk.
"We need to go before the students come in," she said.
"It will be ok," he said.
She nodded "It's just a lot" she said before standing.
"I don't regret any of it though.
I know if I don't do this now eventually I will have to" she said before walking to him.
He wrapped his arms around her as she placed her head on his chest.
"This is all a part of this I guess.
I am killing off who I am to make room for what I will become no matter how much it hurts" she said.
"The new you will be everything you have been hiding.
It will be remarkable" he said before kissing her.
"What if I'm not what you want?" she asked.
"You have always been what I wanted.
My lioness" he said.
They then walked to his car before driving away from the school for one last time.