The Hallway of Saints and Sinners

The hallway was dimly lit, but the polished dark wood floors glistened with a faint sheen from the ornate chandeliers. Rich red walls, covered with intricate tapestries of diverse Hispanic heritage, gave the room a regal air. Tanya's wheelchair rolled quietly along as Patricia walked behind her, keeping a steady grip on the handles.

Soft humming of the steps would stop, then once in a while by the small creak of old wood as they stepped along, for Tanya's eyes shifted through the line of arches adorning this long corridor-the poise of which could almost soothe the unexplained knot now developing inside.

Then the muffled wails of a child cut through the stillness. Tanya jerked her head around, furrowing her brow. Ahead of her, a nun stood outside her office, her stern figure looming over a small, shaking boy. The nun's hand rose and fell with harsh precision, each blow punctuated by an angry tirade.

"Tu ignorante! Mi sueño está siendo perturbado, hijo de puta!" the nun spat, her voice sharp with rage.

Patricia's hand froze on the wheelchair. Tricia's voice cut through the tension, firm and commanding despite her small stature. "Sister, enough! Calm yourself!" 

The nun's furious eyes darted toward the pair, her breaths ragged. She seemed taken aback by Tanya's boldness but quickly masked her surprise with defiance.

"Control myself? Who do I look like? Some kind of monk? I am tired, overworked, taking care of my kids, and a widow. What more do you want me to do? These children—they are relentless! My rest, my peace—they destroy it all!"

Patricia is shocked by the nun's outburst of emotion, and she starts to understand why the woman is feeling overwhelmed and overworked. She empathizes with the difficult situation the nun is facing, and she tries to reassure her and comfort her.

"I understand that your situation is difficult, and I know that you are dealing with a lot. But please don't take it out on the children, as they are just children and don't know any better. Instead, let's all try to work together to make this a better place for everyone."

Patricia tries to understand the nun's perspective and empathize with her, but she also stands up for the child, saying that he deserves a second chance. She is also trying to find a compromise to avoid further violence and trauma towards the child.

The nun, instead of calming down after her outburst at the student, she calls the couple to order them to hand the documents to the ethics teacher and throws them out of her office.

Immediately, there was silence down the long hallway. The nun slumped into herself, still not looking up. She walked wordlessly into her office, came back a minute later with a stack of papers.

"Take these to the ethics teacher," she said curtly, thrusting the documents into Patricia's hands. "And get out of my sight."

Her tone was sharp, but her movements betrayed a subtle tremor of guilt. As the girls turned to leave, they heard the faint murmur of the nun's prayers drifting through the doorway.

"In umbra non spiritus sancti. Please forgive me for losing my temper..."

Her words carried a sincere ring to them, and Patricia said nothing. The nun's penitent whispers followed them down the hall, mingling with the echoes of their footsteps.

Very soon, silence was broken by a crash like thunder. The girls were just in time to see the nun sprawled on the floor, her rolling chair betraying her trust.

"¡Ay, Dios mío!" the nun exclaimed, her voice a mix of shock and indignation. She sat up, brushing herself off and glancing around as if to ensure no one had witnessed her indignity. But her eyes met Patricia's, who couldn't suppress a quiet chuckle.

"Why me? What is this phenomenon?" the nun muttered, throwing her hands up in exasperation.

Patricia managed to keep a straight face as she helped Tanya suppress her own laughter. "Perhaps, Sister, even chairs need a break," Patricia offered with a faint smile.

The nun glared but said nothing, retreating into her office with a huff.

The girls continued their journey to the ethics teacher, who accepted the documents with a distracted nod. "You're dismissed," the teacher said, waving them off.

As they exited, Patricia turned to Tanya, who smiled warmly. "What?" Patricia asked.

"Notting," said Tanya with a smile and a tinge of amusement in her voice. "Just thinking how justice does have a rather peculiar way of finding its own self-expression—even through a rolling chair.

Patricia giggled, pulling Tanya's wheelchair through the grand hallway yet again. Beauty of tapestries and soft lights of chandeliers seemed light now, momentarily relieved from heavy burdens by ridiculousness of the human spirit