My son was always a little cautious, but lately, he outright refused to get on the school bus. At first, I thought it was just nerves or a phase, but the more he resisted, the more frustrated I got. So, one rainy morning, I decided enough was enough and followed the bus in my car. I was determined to figure out why my usually brave kid was so scared. What I saw that day made my heart race, turning an ordinary school run into a shocking revelation.
As the school bus rumbled to our corner, I noticed my son, Timmy, biting his lip and clutching his backpack tightly. Standing there, he looked more like a nervous kid than his usual upbeat self. The bus came to a halt, and he hesitated. I tried to reassure him. "It'll be okay, sweetie. I'll be right here," I said with what I hoped was a comforting smile. But inside, I was questioning everything.