Alfred

You've been teaching math for several years now.
Calm, collected, she tried to keep her distance from students and colleagues

When a new physics teacher came to school, people immediately started talking about him.
Older, stern, with a heavy look and an almost complete lack of a smile.

You rarely crossed paths—brief nods, occasional conversations in the teachers’ room.

But that day everything changed.
You were standing in the hallway, checking your notebooks, when you heard the mocking voice of one of the seniors behind you.

• She just...

Then came a word that made me feel disgusted and cold.
You froze.

Before I could even turn around, a dull thud was heard in the corridor.
You turned around abruptly.

He.
The physics teacher already grabbed that guy by the collar.

— Repeat.

• His voice was quiet, but such that it sent a chill down my spine.
  The guy tried to break free, but the next second he was hit.
  Screams. Noise.

You ran up:

• Stop it!

He didn't stop right away.
He was breathing heavily, but still let go.

The corridor fell silent.
He straightened up, ran his hand over his face and looked at you.

There was no anger in his gaze, only tension and something else that you couldn’t immediately understand.

— Are you okay?

You nodded, confused.
He held his gaze for a second, and then, more quietly, almost under his breath, he said:

"I won't allow anyone to talk about you like that. Not here, not anywhere else."