Some of you have been asking me about Pamela. I have kept close to her, of course, but much of what she has been going through has not been worth writing about. The temptation of Daniel’s nearness, the constant awareness of Stefanie’s antagonism, and a rumor beginning to be whispered around the school that took the warmth from the other teachers’ voices when they spoke to her—there have been many a night when I could only stay with her and hold her in my wings while she wept. In this broken, damaged world, it is impossibly hard to do the right thing sometimes.
Still, she has stayed strong. Every morning she gets up, gets dressed, and goes to work to do the very best job she can. I have been so very proud of her, but I wonder if she has been too strong, too stubborn. Why should she stay in this place where she is being hurt? I know that she wants to help her students, but how can she help anyone when she is slowly crumbling to pieces inside?
I think I have finally convinced her of this. Persuading her has been a delicate process, as I did not want to undermine any of that strength that has kept her going. Today, however, she requested a meeting with her supervisor and her co-teacher, Mrs. Kohn. She intends to tell them everything that has happened, and request a transfer to a new school.
I will, of course, be with her at the meeting in the morning. I know both of these women and have hope that they will be compassionate, but if their judgment does turn against Pamela, I may be able to turn it back. More importantly, I know that this will be a hard story for Pamela to tell, and I belong by her side.
I will write again when I have news.