Gemotions

He stared at the school directory, his vision blurring. Ms. Bell. The name, printed in crisp, official letters, sparked a primal fear. A deep, unpleasant feeling, like the taste of metal in his mouth. He remembered the woman’s sharp tongue, her uncanny ability to find his weaknesses.

He found himself obsessively rearranging his son's backpack, checking and rechecking the contents. The mundane task was oddly calming. He felt a mounting urge to go to the school and observe her firsthand, to gauge how she treated his son.

He imagined the woman's face, unchanged by time, and felt a cold shudder.