Gemotions

The sound of his wife's delighted laugh grated on John’s ears. "Oh, that's just perfect! Mrs. Gable! She was *fantastic*!" she chirped. He glared at the brochure, the print blurring before his eyes. *Mrs. Gable*. The woman who’d always picked on him. The woman who'd made him feel inadequate.

He swallowed hard, his throat suddenly dry. He thought about the dreaded school events. The open houses. The volunteer opportunities. He didn't want to go. He did not want to see her.

He retreated to the backyard, needing fresh air. He would need a plan. He needed to avoid this at all costs. He would become a ghost at this school.