A soft knock came at the door. The headmaster rose, opened it, and a shy, slender girl stepped inside. It was Linda. Her school uniform was crisp, and she gripped the strap of her book bag nervously, looking from the headmaster to the tall man standing near the window.
"Linda," the headmaster said gently, "there's someone here to see you." He offered her an encouraging smile before stepping out quietly, leaving the two of them alone.
Sally turned slowly, studying the girl. She had sharp, intelligent eyes and an air of quiet strength despite her shy demeanor. In that moment, he remembered Zaria mentioning her countless times — the one friend who had refused to walk away from her, even when the world felt like it was burning down.
"Are you Linda?" Sally asked softly.
The girl nodded, brushing a strand of hair from her forehead. "Yes, sir. I am."
Sally smiled and stepped closer. "My name is Sally Raymond. I am Zaria's godfather."
Linda's eyes widened, and for a moment she just stood there, unable to speak. The questions bubbled in her gaze: How is Zaria? Is she alright? Will she ever come back?
"Zaria is doing well," Sally said quietly, answering the questions he knew were weighing on her heart. "Better than she has been in a long, long time. And she talks about you, Linda. All the time. You were her best friend when she felt like the world was too dark to bear."
Linda drew in a sharp breath, and then suddenly, tears began to stream down her cheeks. "I… I tried to help her when I could," she said shakily. "Even when the others bullied her, I tried to stand by her. But I was so afraid for her. So afraid she would disappear one day and never come back."
Sally smiled softly, brushing a hand down the side of her arm. "She knows, Linda. Zaria knows you were always there for her. What you gave her — your friendship, your loyalty — was worth more than anything. You gave her strength when no one else would."
Linda wiped her tears quickly with the back of her hand, swallowing hard. "Where is she now, sir? Will she be okay?"
"She is safe," Sally promised. "She is healing, and she is hopeful for the first time in a long while. And she's going to school soon — a good school, where she can make friends, learn, and grow. But she hasn't forgotten you. Not for a moment."
At this, Linda sank down into one of the visitor's chairs, pressing a hand to her heart. "That's all I ever wanted for her. All I ever prayed for. I was so scared she wouldn't survive… that she wouldn't have a chance."
Sally pulled a crisp handkerchief from his pocket and offered it to her. "You're a brave girl, Linda. Never forget that. What you gave Zaria — compassion, loyalty, kindness — is worth more than gold. And one day, I'm sure you will meet again. When that time comes, she'll have a story to tell you. A story about how the world can be cruel… but also how it can be kind. And she will tell you that it was friends like you that kept her hopeful when all else was lost."
Linda smiled through her tears, brushing the handkerchief across her cheeks. "Thank you, sir," she said softly. "Thank you for taking care of her."
Sally offered a warm smile and placed a hand gently on her shoulder. "Thank you, Linda. You were the sister she never had. The world needs more friends like you."
For a moment, the room felt suspended in silence, the weight of Zaria's trials and triumphs filling the space between them. But this was not an ending — it was the promise of a new chapter. A chapter where belonging, kindness, and resilience would guide Zaria's path, and where friends like Linda would always have a special place in her heart.
With a final nod, Sally stepped towards the door, knowing that the threads of friendship and family, however fragile, could weave the strongest of ties.