Rogelio hesitated, his eyes flicking between Lucía and the principal, clearly weighing his options. “Fine,” he finally conceded, though his voice carried an edge of frustration. “But I’m not leaving without her.”

As Rogelio reluctantly followed Principal Carmen towards the office, Lucía exhaled a breath she didn’t realize she was holding. She turned to Mariana, who was visibly trembling. “You’re very brave, Mariana,” Lucía said softly, gently brushing a stray hair from the girl’s face. “You did the right thing by telling me.”

The hallway felt eerily quiet, the usual after-school chatter replaced by a tense silence. Lucía kept a watchful eye on the office door, knowing that every second counted. She couldn’t help but feel a pang of anger towards the situation—how could someone betray the trust of a child so profoundly?

A few minutes later, two uniformed police officers arrived, their presence both a relief and a confirmation of the gravity of the situation. Lucía waved them over, her hand steady as she introduced them to Mariana. “This is Mariana, the girl we called about,” she explained, her voice a mix of urgency and reassurance.

One officer knelt to Mariana’s level, offering a warm, compassionate smile. “Hello, Mariana. We’re here to help you,” he said gently. “You’re very brave for speaking up.”

Mariana glanced up at Lucía, who nodded encouragingly. “They’re here to make sure you’re safe,” Lucía affirmed.

The officer continued, “We’re going to talk to your mom and make sure everything is alright. You don’t have to worry about anything.”

As they spoke, Lucía noticed Principal Carmen and Rogelio emerging from the office, the latter’s expression now a mask of anger and realization. The presence of law enforcement was unmistakable, and Rogelio’s bravado seemed to falter.

“Sir, we need to have a conversation with you,” the second officer said, stepping forward with quiet authority. Rogelio’s protests were loud, but they fell on deaf ears as the officers escorted him aside for questioning.

Lucía knelt beside Mariana, wrapping an arm around her. “You’re not alone, Mariana. We’re all here for you,” she promised.

The remaining minutes passed in a flurry, with Mariana’s mother being contacted and arriving shortly thereafter. Her relief was palpable as she embraced her daughter, tears of gratitude and sorrow mingling.

Lucía watched the reunion, feeling a sense of peace knowing that Mariana was finally safe. As the officers led Rogelio away, Lucía hoped this would be the beginning of healing and justice for Mariana and her family.