Gemotions

Sarah slammed the car door, the sound echoing in the empty parking lot. Her fists were clenched so tightly her fingernails dug crescents into her palms. The audacity! After all these years, Ms. Periwinkle. The memory of her, looming, sharp-tongued, returned with startling clarity. Her daughter, Lily, would be under her thumb.

She imagined Lily, bright and bubbly, being slowly extinguished by Ms. Periwinkle's disapproval. The thought churned her insides. She didn't want to be civil, she wanted to confront her, lay bare the damage she had caused.

The school building loomed before her, a dark, imposing structure. Every creak of the door, every whispered conversation, felt like a personal affront. She walked towards the classroom, her steps heavy, each footfall a hammer blow against the silent hallway.