Gemotions

The relentless din of the school cafeteria grated on Mr. Rodriguez's nerves. He craved silence. He craved escape. He was meant to be enjoying his lunch, not refereeing a food fight between two sixth-graders. He wanted out of here, away from the screaming and the chaos and the never-ending parade of student drama. A delivery guy approached him with a bouquet of flowers. He squinted at the card. It was from a student he barely remembered, the name vaguely familiar. The flowers were cheerful, a profusion of bright colours that seemed to mock his current internal state. He looked away. He didn't deserve it.