Weight of expectations

As she reached the door to the teacher's office, Mindy paused for a moment, her hand hovering uncertainly over the doorknob. With a deep breath, she pushed open the door and stepped inside, her heart pounding in her chest.

Mrs Rodriguez looked up from her desk as Mindy entered, her expression inscrutable. "Please, have a seat," she said, gesturing to the chair opposite her desk.

Mindy obeyed, her hands trembling as she took her seat. She tried to swallow past the lump in her throat, but her mouth felt dry and parched.

Mrs Rodriguez regarded her for a moment in silence, her gaze piercing and unreadable. Then, finally, she spoke, her voice soft yet stern.

"Mindy, I wanted to talk to you about your recent performance in class," she began, her words sending a shiver down Mindy's spine. "I've noticed that you've been struggling to keep up with the material, and I'm concerned that it may be affecting your grades."