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Ryland adored his new home on Erid. How could he not? Everything he loved was there: Rocky, the sea, the fog, Rocky, oxygen, his job as a teacher, Rocky, a house all his own… did he mention Rocky?
It wasn’t all perfect. Grace sometimes recalled painful memories from his past that made him cry in his bed until his best friend hugged him for a couple of minutes. The amnesia was still wearing off, even after a year.
What was worse, even good memories hurt him.
"What does Grace miss the most?"
They were sitting on the shore and talking. They found it calming, not trying to entertain themselves with their chat or to solve problems related to Grace’s stay. Just saying whatever came to mind and listening to what their best friend thought about it.
"You mean, from Earth?"
"Yes. Maybe something Eridians can’t recreate in the biodome."
Ryland wondered. Well, he missed some food he would have trouble finding on Erid. Skittles, chocolate, milkshakes… it wasn’t impossible to recreate them, but it wouldn’t taste exactly the same.
He missed his friends, probably. He remembered a few people’s names and the outlines of their faces. He even remembered feeling good with them, smiling and laughing without forcing himself to.
Grace remembered someone he would really miss.
"…I miss my children."
"Grace had children?"
"Yeah. Well- well, no, actually, I didn’t, it’s just… I was a teacher back on Earth. And… I’d grown really close with the kids."
Ryland stared off into the horizon.
"I loved them like they were my own."
***
Late May. The end of the school year. While almost everyone were looking forward to it, mostly the students, of course, Ryland was a little hesitant to part with his job for three whole months. It wasn’t a burden on his life, quite the opposite, in fact. He was more than a little upset over having to rest.
But, well, he supposed that it would be nice to take a break from grading papers, staying after hours to let some kids retake an exam or two, and carrying literal tons of homework into his apartment. It was the 30th, and all teachers were officially still working. But, well, technically, no one was. A good quarter didn’t show up, and there was only a handful of students just coming to class.
Grace didn’t force them to study, obviously, but did propose to play something until the bell rang. He didn’t push upon receiving a no, he was perfectly content with just sitting in a quiet room with someone else.
The fourth lesson came to an end, and the three kids whose parents still forced them to attend school took their mostly empty bags and left, waving to their teacher. Ryland waved back.
"Have a good summer!" he raised his chin slightly. He heard a “you too” from the hallway and decided that it was enough for him.
Grace got back to compiling the email in his phone. He still couldn’t find a good excuse not to visit the teachers’ pool party on the weekend. Maybe he could invent a family he had plans with? No, everyone knew he wasn’t even dating anyone, he’d said that way too many times for anyone to forget. Maybe… he’d just say that he got sick? Yes, an allergy spiking up, maybe. Now to just phrase it like he meant it…
A soft knock on the door made him perk up. You and a few girls from your class were peeking into the classroom.
"Hi, Mr. Grace!" one of them said, smiling wide and already beginning to make her way over to his desk.
Madison. Even though she was a cane user, she was always extremely energetic and bubbly, both in class and on break. Failed a fair amount of tests, but still managed to end the year without any unsatisfactory grades. Ryland smiled at her, sitting up properly.
"Hey there! How’re you doing?" he watched the other three students go after her. Regina, Hannah and you.
"We’re fine, not doing anything in class. We’re actually dropping in on all of our teachers, we won’t be showing up tomorrow. Just, y’know, saying goodbye and all!" she giggled.
"Oh, well," Ryland put his phone away, resting it face-down beside his notepad. "It’s an honor that you decided to visit me, too."
"Are you- are you still going to be teaching us next year?" Hannah asked, leaning onto the table. Grace never usually allowed the students to touch anything on his desk, the desk itself included, but decided to let it slide, just that one time. It was the end of the school year, after all.
"I dunno, Hannah. I will have some competition! But let’s just say I’m not giving you up that easily." Madison laughed. "How did you all end your school year?"
"Barely! I had to sit through, like, four history exams!" yep, that was Madison, alright.
"We did okay. I think only Cole had some trouble, so he’s going to take a few summer classes, but that’s it," Regina said.
"Yikes. What subject?" she shrugged. "Alright, alright. Did you need something?"
"Can we take a selfie? We’re taking selfies with everyone, so that we kind of have an album!" Hannah pointed at her phone.
"Uh, sure! Absolutely, yeah!" Ryland straightened his back, patting down his shirt and fixing his tie. He almost forgot that it was even a thing among the children!
Immediately, all four kids were by his side, holding the camera almost diagonally. Grace figured that it was on purpose. Madison made him look like he had devil horns with her fingers behind his head. He didn’t say anything, just grinned like he was saying “cheese.”
Hannah took a few photos. Everyone looked so happy in them.
"Thank you so much, Mr. Grace! Have a good summer break!" Regina smiled, heading towards the door, Madison following close behind.
"Thank you! You too!"
"Hey, you coming?" Hannah looked at you, stopping mid step to ask. You were still glued to his desk’s side.
"Uh, yeah! Yeah, I’ll catch up with you in a minute, you go without me." the girl didn’t ask questions, instead just nodding and picking up her pace to catch up with her friends.
The door closed. Ryland could hear the birds outside a lot more clearly now. He took a moment to just take all of that in.
Then looked at you, fixing his glasses.
"Yes? How can I help you?"
You looked at him, meddling with the laces of your hoodie. You actually always wore the school uniform, it was a little strange to see you in casual clothes for once.
"Oh, uh, it’s nothing. Just, I’ve been meaning to tell you…" you looked down at the floor. You often had trouble maintaining eye contact, Grace had gathered. "I guess… thanks for teaching us."
His smile weakened, and he raised his eyebrows slightly.
You’d always been a little strange. You were very persistent to have good grades, but never really managed it. Still, Ryland always admired your dedication, and couldn’t help but help you out a little sometimes. Maybe it was because you cried over the most unimportant things. Like when he pointed out the mistakes in your test, or even just corrected your mostly right answer.
You were a quiet kid, mostly. Sometimes, you were very loud! For example, when you solved a problem on the whiteboard by yourself. Ryland never really saw you talk to other kids. Until a few months ago, actually, when you started growing closer with the three girls that had just left the room. He listened in.
"Before you, we had a really… difficult teacher, and I didn’t even really understand the subject until you came along. I used to hate science, but you’re the reason I… don’t hate it anymore." you looked at Grace. "So just thanks for being really nice to us and making my school life better."
…He was…
He didn’t usually find himself at a loss for words.
He spent a few seconds just taking that in. Come on, he needed to pull himself together and behave like an adult! But a cool adult. An adult that a kid could be friends with. That was his motto.
"Wow," was the first thing he said. "I… thank you. It means… so much to me… that you feel that way. Those words are the exact reason I teach at all!" he laughed lightheartedly. "It really does mean a lot. Thank you for telling me that." he smiled.
You smiled back.
"…Can I hug you?" you rubbed your shoulder, trying very hard to look Ryland in the eyes while asking that.
Oh! That, he could do!
"I- of course! Of course." he even got out of his seat for that one, kneeling down to be more or less on eye level with you.
Not as much as a moment later, you were already walking into his arms. He could feel how you were trying not to squeeze too hard in fear of making everything feel awkward. But Grace knew better than anyone, that there was nothing that would make this feel awkward or uncomfortable or weird or not good.
There was something so special in hugging a child. It was like hugging a porcelain doll, or maybe a glass statue, something fragile that you needed to protect. It was like holding the most precious treasure of Earth, not understanding how in a million years you were allowed to even get so close to it.
He loved his children. He really did.
"Thank you for everything, Mr. Grace. Goodbye."
And he loved you very much, too.
Grace felt like he could cry.
***
Grace realized that he was crying.
He was quick to wipe the annoying tears away, sniffing quietly. The memory was a nice one, but he felt awful from remembering it.
Still, at the same time, he felt incredibly happy.
"Grace leaking," Rocky noticed. "Apology, apology. Rocky didn’t want to upset Grace."
"No, no, it’s okay," Ryland reassured his friend, voice cracking. "I’ll be fine."
"Grace want to hug?"
"…Yeah. Yeah, a hug would be nice."
Grace wondered if you still remembered him. You, or any of the other children he had the pleasure of teaching. He wondered if you made more friends. Wondered if you still cried as much.
He wanted the best for you. What parent wouldn’t want the best for their child?
And what parent didn’t love them with all their heart?