Gemotions

“Oh no,” he whispered to himself, the words barely audible. Mr. Thompson. The name swam before his eyes on the school website. His daughter, Maya, was excitedly looking forward to math class. He could not share her enthusiasm.

His chest tightened, and he felt as though he was slowly suffocating. He recalled Mr. Thompson, his stern demeanor, his unforgiving attitude. He'd never been good at math, and his teacher’s critical gaze had only made matters worse.

The following day, he drove Maya to school, his knuckles white on the steering wheel. He felt a profound sense of foreboding, a deep, pervasive feeling of unease. He watched Maya run towards the school doors, and his heart clenched. He was consumed by the shadows of his own childhood.