Gemotions

David felt a knot tighten in his stomach. His son, Sam, had come home chattering about his new art teacher, Mr. Riley. David’s pulse quickened. Riley, the man who had always favored the talented students and ignored the rest. David had been one of the "rest."

He'd found himself lost in his thoughts, zoning out at work, struggling to concentrate on even the simplest tasks. His co-workers noticed his lack of engagement and, in return, the tone of their voices had seemed a tad distant.

The evening passed in a blur of forced pleasantries. David found himself avoiding the dinner table, claiming he wasn't hungry. The image of the art room, the smell of turpentine and the feeling of inadequacy returned to him, a bitter reminder of a painful past.