Other universes of Cherner's realities.

---

After the lessons, the chemistry classroom was empty. Anna Stanislavovna was left alone, filling out the journal and mechanically checking the rows of names. Her thoughts kept returning to the same thing: Valieva's frightened gaze and the fresh blood on the napkin that she had not thrown away. There was a soft knock on the door. "Come in." Medvedeva and Zagitova entered the classroom. Both looked tired but calm, as was typical at the end of the school day. "Have you already announced the exam to the class?" asked Medvedeva, sitting closer to the table. "Yes," replied Anna, not raising her eyes. "There aren't many people interested." Zagitova chuckled. "You're lucky. I have the entire 11th grade. Both math and physics." "You wanted it," remarked Shcherbakova calmly. "You were planning to study physics." "I don't regret it," shrugged Alina. "By the way, I have two particularly stubborn students in physics." "Who?" asked Anna and Medvedeva simultaneously. "Kunitsa and Kostornaya." They exchanged brief smiles. Then, as if between the lines, Medvedeva asked, "Who is taking the chemistry exam?" "Kondratyuk and Kostornaya," replied Anna. "That's sufficient." Zagitova paused for a moment. "And Valieva?" Shcherbakova finally raised her eyes. - no. "She's a zero. She won't pass." "Anya," Medvedeva said softly, "give her a chance. She's smart." "I don't want any trouble," Shcherbakova said. "She's never done well with me." "She had a reason," Zagitova said cautiously. "What reason?" Anna asked dryly. Medvedeva sighed. "When Camila started seventh grade, her father died." Shcherbakova froze. - what? "A car accident," Zagitova added. "And it's not that simple." Medvedeva continued: "After that, everything fell apart in the family. Her mother and stepfather were drinking. Kamil was being beaten. She came to school not because she didn't care, but because she couldn't do anything else." Anna felt a cold sensation in her stomach. "Why didn't you tell me?" "We didn't think it was important," Zagitova replied quietly. "I've been angry with her for years," Shcherbakova said in a barely audible voice. "And she was just drowning." "There's something else," Medvedeva added. "There's a theory that her stepfather was involved in her father's death. If that's true, Kamil is living with someone she's afraid of." The room became too quiet. "I need to think," Anna said. "I'll call you." Medvedeva and Zagitova nodded and left. Shcherbakova was left alone. She sank into a chair and closed her eyes. Now it all made sense: the fear, the harshness, the running away, the cuts. And her own blindness. *I saw it. And I didn't want to see it.* Tears flowed quietly, without sobs, out of exhaustion and guilt. There was another knock on the door. "I'm busy," Anna said sharply. "I can hear that," a familiar voice replied. "That's why I'm here." Eteri Georgievna entered calmly and stood next to her. "Why are you crying, Anushka?" "I made a mistake," Shcherbakova said honestly. "I hated the girl who needed help." Eteri paused for a moment. "And what are you going to do?" "I don't know. She's afraid of me." "She is," Tutberidze nodded. "That's why she listens to you." Anna raised her head. "You don't see the simple things," Eteri continued. "Valieva respects you. You're the only teacher whose opinion means something to her. You've just never responded to her." "Will she listen to me?" Anna asked doubtfully. "She will," Eteri said calmly. "If you take responsibility." Anna wiped her face. "I'll help her pass the exam. As a teacher." Eteri smiled slightly. "Now you're acting like a grown-up." When the door closed, the room became quiet again. But now, Shcherbakova knew what to do.