The rustle of footfall on the pavement was the only sound in the hallway. I turned a bend. found her. Matilda.

With a tonne of reports to handle, I approached her with a smile.

She gazed up at me, her face displaying strain. With her fingers curled up and her face filled with worry, she appeared to be lost in thought.

I yelled out to her as she approached, "Matilda."

She sprang forward with a pace that made my chest skip before I could inquire what was wrong. I was hardly able to ...