The bus driver notices a CRYING girl every day, looks under the SEAT after getting off and FAILS at what he sees…

A school bus driver began noticing a young girl quietly crying every afternoon on his route, her behavior growing more concerning as the days passed. One day after the drop-offs, he decided to investigate and looked under her seat, and what he discovered made him gasp. Walter Harmon adjusted his rearview mirror with a practiced flick of his wrist as the rumbling school bus made its way down the suburban streets of Willow Glen, Illinois.

At 62, the retired mechanic had found an unexpected second career as a school bus driver, a job that gave his days structure and purpose after 35 years of fixing engines and transmissions. The afternoon sun slanted through the windows, casting long shadows across the blue-gray seats. Walter glanced at his watch, 3.45 p.m., right on schedule for the afternoon drop-offs.

Most of the students from Willow Glen Intermediate School chatted animatedly about weekend plans, upcoming tests, or the latest social media drama. The usual cacophony of adolescent life filled the bus, but as Walter checked his mirror again, his gaze landed on a girl sitting alone near the front. She sat just three seats back in the row directly above the air vent, her face partially hidden by strands of brown hair.

Her shoulders were hunched forward, and though she tried to hide it, Walter could see her hand occasionally coming up to wipe away tears. This was the third day in a row he had noticed her crying, always in the same pattern, quiet and reserved when the bus was full, gradually letting her guard down as students departed at their stops. Walter frowned, concern etching deeper lines into his weathered face.

He had been driving this route long enough to recognize the signs of a troubled kid. Looking down at his clipboard where he kept the student roster, he confirmed what he already knew. Her name was Rory Carson, Class 9B.

She had only been enrolled at Willow Glen for two weeks. The first week, Walter hadn’t thought much of her quiet demeanor. New students often kept to themselves until they found their footing, but this second week had shown a disturbing pattern, and today seemed particularly bad.

Fifth Street coming up, Walter called out as he slowed for the stop. Two boys grabbed their backpacks and made their way to the front, thanking Walter as they stepped off the bus. He watched them walk toward their homes before closing the door and continuing on his route.

With each stop, the bus grew emptier, and Walter continued stealing glances at Rory through his mirror. There were only five students left now, and Rory’s stop was the last on his route. As the bus emptied further, her silent tears became more evident.

At one point, Walter noticed something peculiar. As he navigated a turn, Rory suddenly slouched forward, her hand disappearing beneath the seat. Walter couldn’t see clearly what she was doing.

He needed to keep his eyes on the road, but it appeared she was examining the air vent under the seat. A metallic clang echoed through the now quiet bus. Everything all right back there? Walter called, concerned.

Rory’s head snapped up, her eyes wide with surprise. Yes, she said quickly, her voice barely audible. Sorry, I dropped my tissue.

Walter nodded and returned his attention to the road, but something felt off. He drew a long, contemplative breath. Yesterday he had tried to strike up a conversation with the girl, asking about her classes and how she was settling in, but she had offered only one-word responses before retreating back into silence.

After dropping off the remaining students, Walter finally approached Rory’s stop, a modest two-story house with faded blue siding at the end of Maple Drive. As he pulled the bus to a stop, Walter made a decision. He couldn’t just ignore what he was seeing day after day.

Last stop, he announced, opening the door. Rory gathered her pink backpack and stood, her movements sluggish. As she passed Walter, he noticed her red-rimmed eyes and the dark circles beneath them.

Have a good evening, Rory, he said with a gentle smile. She nodded without making eye contact and stepped off the bus. To her visible surprise, Walter followed her, stepping down onto the sidewalk.

Why are you following me? she asked, her voice tinged with alarm. Walter held up his hands in a placating gesture. I can’t help but notice you’ve been upset on the bus lately, he said.

It’s happened several times now. I just wanted to make sure with your parents that everything’s okay. Fear flashed across Rory’s face, though she quickly tried to mask it…