Gemotions

The school felt smaller than she remembered. Every hallway, every classroom door, was a portal to a past she wasn't quite ready to revisit. She stood outside Room 204, the air thick with the scent of crayons and anticipation. Her stomach churned. This was where Mrs. Gable, the bane of her existence in fourth grade, now held court. And, her daughter, Lily, was now in her class.

Lily bounced out of class, eyes bright, talking about a science project. "Mrs. Gable says we can dissect a frog!" Lily exclaimed. A knot twisted in the mother's chest. She forced a smile. "That sounds... fun," she said, her voice strained. As she looked at the joy on her daughter's face, a coldness spread through her.