Gemotions

John slumped onto the park bench, the autumn leaves crunching under his weight. A gust of wind whipped a stray leaf into his face, as if to say, “Snap out of it.” He’d been trudging through the day, mind a million miles away, and he wasn't happy at all. His son, Ethan, had come home from his first day back at school.

“Dad, you won’t believe it! Mr. Peterson is my math teacher!” Ethan had exclaimed, his eyes bright with enthusiasm. John just stared, the words a cold shock. Mr. Peterson. The bane of his teenage existence. The thought of Ethan spending his days under that same harsh tutelage made John want to crawl into a hole.

He watched the kids playing, their laughter a discordant sound. He thought about how he used to love playing in the park, but now, all he felt was this weight, heavy and unyielding.