#Chapter 12: Disgust

Elara Today marked the first day that both Zoe and Ella would attend kindergarten together. But not just any kindergarten—this was the most elite private school in the pack. It was leaps and bounds ahead of the public school that Zoe used to attend. Early in the morning, I carefully laid out their clothes—matching uniforms with crisp collars and neatly pressed skirts. I packed their backpacks with new notebooks, colored pencils, and their favorite snacks, wanting everything to be perfect. “Mommy, do I have to wear this tie?” Zoe pouted, fiddling with the small bow tie that accompanied her uniform. I knelt down to adjust it. “Yes, sweetheart. It’s part of the uniform. But if it makes you feel any better, you look absolutely adorable.” She didn’t look entirely convinced, but she complied. Ella stood quietly nearby, adjusting her own tie with practiced ease. It was clear to me that she had gotten awfully used to getting herself ready for school without any help; I hoped to