Gemotions

The email arrived, and the subject line blazed with the subject: "Welcome to Ms. Crabtree's Class!" Daniel felt as if the air had been knocked from his lungs. It was an old injury, a fresh stab wound. His son, Ethan, would be facing the same teacher who made Daniel's childhood miserable.

He reread the message, his vision blurring slightly. He felt a deep, chilling dread. His hands began to shake. He wanted to erase the message, erase the name, erase the entire situation.

He slammed his fist against the desk, a loud, jarring sound. He stood up and took a long, deep breath. He needed to get away, to escape the suffocating weight of the past. He went outside and stood by the car, and just stood.