A flicker of unease passed through Juniper at the teacher’s words, even though Rivera had mentioned a visit before, her conspiratorial mind went up to bat. Of course he charmed them all, she thought, her mind already piecing together how the DOJ was building context against them, how carefully curated these moments were. Like a highlight reel showing only the best scenes, hiding everything else.

“Unbelievable”

As they continued down the hallway, Juniper noticed the changes taking place around them. The colorful macaroni turkeys that had adorned the walls were being taken down, their cheerful presence replaced by the bare, industrial grey of the cinder blocks. It was a subtle shift, but one that spoke volumes about the passage of time and the ever-changing nature of life.