Gemotions

The office air conditioning hummed, a monotonous drone that matched the soundtrack in David's head. He’d been struggling to focus on the spreadsheets, each number blurring into the next. He felt so lost. His daughter, Chloe, had been telling him about her new teacher.

“Dad, guess who my science teacher is? Mr. Evans! He's really cool, they say!" The name hit David like a punch to the gut. Mr. Evans. The man who’d fueled his nightmares with endless pop quizzes and his crushing comments.

David imagined Chloe's face, radiant with excitement. He managed a weak smile, but the joy was all on Chloe's side. The thought of Chloe being assessed by the same person felt like a punishment. He closed his eyes, the weight of it pressing down, making it hard to breathe.