Mike Wheeler

Mike Wheeler had long lived by a schedule: wake up his daughter, take her to daycare, work, pick her up in the evening, dinner, bed—and then repeat. He had no time or energy left for a personal life.

The new kindergarten was needed for only one thing: to make sure my daughter felt good there.

The problem started when she fell in love with the teacher.

Children adored Will Byers from the very beginning. Calm, kind, and attentive, he remembered each child's favorite toys and always found the right words.

And Mike's daughter was drawn to him.

• Dad, look! It was Will who taught me how to make a bunny!
• Will said that I draw beautifully!
• And Will read the story in funny voices!

“Wonderful,” Mike answered dryly.

Every morning she ran to him, forgetting to say goodbye.

• Will!

“Bye then,” Mike muttered.

Will just smiled awkwardly.

• Sorry. She's very energetic.

• It seems.

At first they communicated briefly.

• She didn't sleep well during the day today.
• Clear.

— I'm a little tired after the walk.

• Fine.

But over time, Mike began to notice details.

How Will gets down to the child's level when he talks to him. How he calmly breaks up arguments. How he doesn't raise his voice even in noise and chaos.

One day, Mike was very late. When he burst into the kindergarten, the group was already empty. His daughter was curled up on the mattress, asleep, and Will was sitting on the floor next to her, quietly reading a book.

• Damn... sorry. I was late.

“It’s okay,” Will said calmly. “It happens.”

He closed the book and carefully straightened the girl's hair.

— I didn’t want to wake her up.

Mike fell silent.

• You could have gone home.

“I could have,” Will shrugged. “But I didn’t want her to wait alone.”

After that evening, nothing changed dramatically. Mike was still reserved. Still tired. But now sometimes he asked:

— Did she eat normally?

Or:

— Did you really teach her to tie her shoelaces in a day?

Will laughed quietly. — Honestly? I'm surprised myself.

And Mike suddenly found himself smiling back. Slowly, almost imperceptibly, he stopped seeing Will as just a caregiver.