THE TEACHER WHO DISAPPEARED

At 14, I was so poor I skipped lunch, pretending to read in the school library to hide my hunger. My mom struggled alone after my dad left us with debts. Ms. Grennan, a teacher, quietly left food for me—bananas, granola bars, then sandwiches—never asking questions. Months later, she vanished without explanation. Ten years later, as a legal aid lawyer, I saw her name, Maeve Grennan, on an intake form. Recognizing her, we hugged;

she didn’t know me at first but remembered “Zadie.” She needed help with a moldy apartment. She revealed a false accusation had ended her teaching career, leaving her struggling. I won her case, secured a settlement, and helped clear her name, reinstating her license. She started a literacy group, and I spoke at its opening, sharing how her kindness saved me. We saved each other, proving small acts of care can ripple forward.