Liam stepped into the old schoolhouse. The wooden floor creaked beneath his feet. A tall teacher with silver glasses smiled at him.
'I know everything you need, Liam,' she said. She held his hand tight and whispered, 'Just me?'
Liam walked to his desk and opened his sketchbook. The room was so quiet he could hear the clock ticking. Tick. Tick. Tick.
He drew a square, then another square, then erased them both. Liam drew a door. Then a window. Then a bird.
He looked up but no one was there. He traced the grain of his desk. It felt smooth and warm under his finger.
Liam climbed onto his chair to look out the window. Something caught his eye on the sill.
A tiny wooden bird was carved right there, with one wing slightly higher than the other. He picked it up. It fit perfectly in his palm.
The teacher leaned over and whispered, 'I found that years ago. Now it found you.'
Liam smiled and picked up his pencil. Tick. Tick. Tick.
He drew a second bird. This one had wings spread wide, flying toward the window.