That was what woke him up, what pulled him out of the dark. His name being called.
At first, it just seemed to be the various parents shouting at him, trying to get him to come with them. But then Barry heard someone – a woman – saying his name much more softly… Almost whispering it.
It broke his trance. He wasn’t even sure he was in the Head’s office any more, but he could see, through the darkness, the couple. The man and woman he’d been trying to tell the Head about.
They were framed by a bright white light. It was so bright, Barry wanted to shut his eyes. But he could still see their faces looking at him. With concern. With hope. And with something else.
And now…
Now he knew what that something else was at last. He could see it in their eyes.
It was love.
And so he knew, finally, who they were.
“Mum! Dad!” he said.