Gemotions

The grey sky seemed to mirror the mood inside Jessica. She had woken up with a sense of dread. The upcoming school year felt bleak and unwelcome. She felt a familiar hollowness in her chest.

She stood outside the school building, the air thick with the scent of freshly cut grass and something akin to a memory. She was handed a class list. The name "Mr. Peterson" leaped out at her. The same Mr. Peterson she had. She remembered his booming laughter and the way he pushed her to do her best.

She walked into the classroom, feeling as if she'd stepped back in time. The room hadn't changed much. He was older, his hair a bit grayer. She couldn't help but smile, a genuine, albeit fragile, smile. It wasn't the feeling she expected.