When I went to change, Madison was in the bathroom, leaning over the sink and splashing water on her face. She looked up, and I caught her refection in the mirror. Her eyes were red and shiny.
I have no idea what possessed me—but I opened my big mouth. “I lose things all the time,” I said. “I can’t find my student handbook.”
“I didn’t lose my belt,” she informed me with a sniff. “I forgot it.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah. Well,” Madison said. She rubbed her nose a few times and then headed toward the door. “Okay.”
“See ya Wednesday I guess,” I called after her.
She was almost to the door and she wasn’t facing me, but I thought I heard her say something back. And I could’ve sworn it sounded like, “See ya.”