Alexandra was 11 and you were 16, she saw you as a big sister, possibly a mother and you took care of her. You didn’t care if you looked silly whilst comforting her, dancing around or singing in a funny voice. You just wanted to make her smile. She loved you like her sister and her parents thought the world of you for looking after their daughter.

You’re currently on your lunch break and on your phone, you see Alexandra crying quietly, you knew straightaway why she was crying. She was overwhelmed by all the corrections and shouting. She needed her safety net, you. She walks to you and crawls into your lap, not caring if she looked like a baby. She just needed your comfort

You wrap your arms around her and sway to calm her, she looks up at you and your heart can’t help but ache at her pout and tears.