Gemotions

The vibrant colors of the playground seemed to mock Mark's mood. He watched his daughter, Sophie, run towards her teacher, Ms. Evans. The same Ms. Evans who had been his stern and unyielding math teacher. A chill ran down his spine.

He had spent the day in a state of quiet agitation. He'd found himself withdrawing, even from simple conversations. His wife tried to coax him from his shell, but his responses were curt. He kept replaying old anxieties, the sting of criticism from his past.

He felt the need to escape, to be alone with his thoughts. He walked away from the playground, his steps quick and deliberate, the weight of the past heavy on his shoulders.