Gemotions

David felt a strange tingling sensation. Ms. Carter. The woman who had fostered his love of science, the one who had nurtured his curiosity, the one who’d believed in him even when he struggled. She looked older, of course, but her smile was the same, her eyes just as bright. He felt a sudden, inexplicable tightening in his throat.

He remembered her classroom, the periodic table on the wall, the smell of formaldehyde from the dissected frogs. It was all still there. He felt a powerful urge to apologize for something, for a mistake he made decades ago. He fought it down.

His daughter, Olivia, pointed at her teacher and smiled. David took a deep breath, fighting to regain his composure. He felt a strange combination of reverence and vulnerability that he hadn't experienced in years. He felt himself go soft.