Clara Hart leaned slightly on the edge of her desk, marker in hand, her tight dress hugging her huge 37-week belly. She looked out at her students with a warm, encouraging smile.

“Think about the main character’s choices here,” she said, pointing to a passage on the board. “Why do you think they acted that way? Was it fear, curiosity, or something else entirely?”

A few students murmured their thoughts, and Clara nodded, listening intently. “Exactly,” she said, her tone patient but enthusiastic. “You’re starting to see how every small detail in a story connects to the bigger picture.”