Only a few months separated the two boys.
Close enough that anyone seeing them together could easily mistake them for twins.
I pressed both hands against my knees beneath the desk, hoping no one would notice they had started shaking.
There had to be a logical explanation.
Maybe they were distant relatives.
Maybe their fathers had some unknown family connection.
Maybe…
No.
None of those explanations accounted for the scar.
Or the identical smile.
Or the overwhelming feeling growing heavier inside my chest with every passing second.
The room fell quiet again.
Neither boy looked at the other anymore.
Instead, both stared down at the floor.
Principal Hayes opened a desk drawer and carefully placed a brass compass between us.
“So,” he began, “this is what started today’s incident.”
The familiar brass surface gleamed beneath the office lights.
I recognized it instantly.
My stomach tightened.
Noah leaned forward.
“That’s mine.”
Lucas immediately answered.
“No, it’s mine.”
The principal sighed.
“Both boys insist this compass belongs to them.”
I looked closely.
It was identical to Noah’s.
Exactly the same worn leather cord.
Exactly the same polished brass cover.
Exactly the same scratches around the edges.
An idea suddenly came to me.
“There may be an easy way to settle this.”
Principal Hayes nodded.
“I’m listening.”
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