Gemotions

The scent of freshly brewed coffee, usually a source of comfort, now only seemed to amplify the disquiet within Ben. His daughter, Maya, had begun the school year and was regaling him with tales of her new music teacher, Ms. Blackwood. Ben’s face had fallen. Blackwood, the woman who had crushed his dreams of being a musician.

He found himself picking at his nails, a nervous habit he hadn't indulged in years. He felt a constant ache in his chest, a low hum of anxiety. He kept replaying memories of his past failures, the sharp sting of Ms. Blackwood’s dismissal.

He avoided contact with Maya for most of the day, retreating to his study. The silence offered little solace. He spent hours staring at the wall, lost in the echo of his past.