The morning sun filtered softly through the dusty windows of the headteacher's office at Bright Light Primary School. The familiar scent of old books and chalk dust hung in the air. Behind his desk, the headteacher sat with a stern expression, reviewing papers that seemed to weigh on his mind more than usual.
A firm knock at the door startled him. The door opened slowly, revealing a tall man with calm, determined eyes and a confident stride.
"Good morning," the man said, extending his hand with a polite smile.
The headteacher nodded, standing up. "Good morning. You must be Mr…?"
"Sally Raymond," the man replied, shaking the offered hand firmly. "I'm here about Zaria Londa Johnson."
The headteacher's eyes narrowed slightly, a shadow crossing his face. He gestured toward the visitor's chair. "Please, sit. How can I help you concerning Zaria?"
Sally took a seat, his posture straight and serious. "I'm here to collect Zaria's Primary Leaving Examination results."
The headteacher leaned back, folding his hands. "And what is your relationship with her?"
"I am her godfather," Sally answered firmly.
The man's face hardened. "Only her parents are authorized to collect such documents."
Sally's jaw tightened, but he held his ground. "Zaria has no parents. They abandoned her long ago."
The headteacher's gaze flickered with hesitation, then he sighed. "Zaria was once a bright student here, full of promise. But then things changed." His voice grew heavy with regret. "She began keeping company with the wrong people… men, far too old for her. She became pregnant, and her future, which was supposed to be secured by a government scholarship, slipped away."
Sally's eyes sharpened. A small, bitter smile touched his lips. "Is that the story her stepmother told you?"
The headteacher nodded. "Yes."
Sally leaned forward, his voice low but firm. "Then you have no right to judge her—or me—based on what that woman said. You don't know what Zaria endured. You don't know that she was forbidden from attending school, forced to beg in the market, and made to work like a machine at an age when she should have been a child."
He paused, voice faltering slightly. "You don't know she was so weak and sick that she was coughing blood… poisoned. That she was raped—while she was almost dying—and then dumped in a rubbish dump in a nearby village."
The headteacher's mouth fell open in shock. "All that… happened to her?"
Sally nodded slowly. "We found her that day, thanks to an informant. We rushed her to the hospital, where she spent weeks on life support. Later, she was flown to India for surgery because the poison had ravaged her organs."
The headteacher sank into his chair, shaken. "Why… why would anyone do such a thing?"
Sally's eyes darkened. "Because some people are cruel. But we saved her. And now, I'm here to ensure she has the chance she deserves."
"How is she now?" the headteacher asked softly.
"She's recovering, stronger every day," Sally said. "And she deserves to go back to school. Not here, but in the city — somewhere she can build the future she was robbed of."
The headteacher nodded slowly. "I want to help. That's why I'm here — to give you her results and recommendations."
He moved to a drawer, rifling through a stack of thick envelopes until he pulled out one marked, 'Zaria Londa Johnson.' He handed it to Sally.
"Despite everything, she scored five aggregates," he said quietly. "A remarkable achievement given how little she was able to study."
Sally accepted the envelope with a thankful nod. "I'm grateful for your support."
The headteacher smiled faintly. "Her government sponsorship still stands. You can take her to any of the schools she applied to."
Sally shook his head. "I'm taking her to the best school."
The headteacher raised an eyebrow but said nothing, simply watching as Sally carefully placed the envelope in his bag.
Before leaving, Sally looked up and said, "There's one more thing. I'd like to see a girl named Linda."
The headteacher's eyes lit up with recognition. "Zaria's close friend. Yes, I can arrange that."
Sally added quietly, "And I want this visit to remain confidential. No one should know I was here."
The headteacher considered for a moment, then nodded. "Agreed."
Sally stood, shook the headteacher's hand firmly, and said, "Thank you for standing by Zaria. She's stronger because of people like you."
As he stepped into the sunlight, Sally felt the weight of responsibility settle on his shoulders — but also a flicker of hope. This was only the beginning of a new chapter for Zaria, one he was determined to write with care, love, and fierce protection.