Gemotions

John felt like he'd stepped through a looking glass. He'd been expecting Mr. Henderson, the new hire. He'd gone to school with a Mr. Henderson. But the name tag read, "Ms. Gable." The name brought with it a sudden, sharp intake of breath. He adjusted his glasses, and a cold sweat broke out.

He felt the sudden urge to flee, to pretend he had the wrong room. His throat constricted. He couldn't leave, though. Not with his son beaming up at him, ready to tell him about the day. He swallowed hard, the muscles in his jaw locked. He had to be calm.

"Dad?" his son asked, his brow furrowing slightly, sensing his father's unnatural stillness. "You look... weird." John managed a weak laugh, a shaky exhale that felt alien coming from his chest. "Just thinking about... how time flies." And how it looped back around, bringing the past into the present, in ways he never would have predicted.