“If it makes you happy, that’s all that matters,” I said, blinking fast and looking away.

Robin wore that jacket to school every day without fail. She was so happy… until the afternoon she came home, and I knew instantly something was wrong.

She walked through the door with red eyes and her hands pressed flat against her sides—the way she does when she’s trying not to cry.

The jacket was in her arms instead of on her back, and even from across the room I could see the damage. A clean tear along the side seam and a stretched section near the collar.

I held out my hand, and she gave it to me silently.

She told me some kids had grabbed it at lunch, pulled at it, even cut into it with scissors while laughing. By the time she got it back, it was already ruined.

I expected her to be upset about the jacket. Instead, she stood in my kitchen apologizing to me, like she had done something wrong.

“I’m sorry, Eddie. I know how hard you worked for it. I’m so sorry.”

I set the jacket down and looked at her.

“Robin… stop.”

But she kept apologizing, and that hurt more than anything those kids had done.

That night, we sat at the kitchen table with our mother’s old sewing kit and fixed it. Robin threaded the needle while I held the fabric steady as she stitched it back together.

We found some iron-on patches in a drawer and used them to cover the worst of the damage.

It didn’t look new anymore. I told her she didn’t have to wear it again if she didn’t want to.

“I don’t care if they laugh,” she said, meeting my eyes. “It’s from my favorite person in the world. I’m wearing it.”

I didn’t argue.

The next morning, she put it on, waved at me, and walked out the door. I stood in the kitchen holding my coffee, hoping the world would just leave her alone for one day.

I got to work at eight and was halfway through inventory when my phone buzzed. It was Robin’s school. My heart started racing before I even answered.

“Hello..?”

“Edward, this is Principal Dawson. I’m calling about Robin.”

“What happened, Sir? Is… is everything alright?”

“I need you to come in.” A pause. “I’d rather not explain over the phone, Edward. You need to see this yourself.”

I was already grabbing my jacket. “I’m on my way, Sir.”

I don’t remember the drive. Just pulling into the school parking lot.

The front office staff saw me and immediately stood. They’d been expecting me. I followed one of them down the hallway. She walked quickly, slightly ahead, avoiding eye contact.

The corridor had that heavy stillness schools get when something has happened and everyone knows it but no one is saying it yet.

She slowed near a recessed corner and glanced toward the wall.

There was a trash can.

And sticking out of it, in pieces, was Robin’s jacket.

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