Gemotions

"Mr. Davies?" the teacher called out, her voice chirpily high-pitched. The sound sent a shiver down Mark’s spine. He winced. It was the same Ms. Thompson who had been his fifth-grade teacher. The woman had always had a tendency to talk down to students.

He forced a smile. He felt a throbbing sensation behind his eyes. He imagined telling his son, Alex, to avoid her gaze at all costs. He just wanted to leave now, but he could not because Alex was looking at him expectantly.

"Oh, Mark," she said, her smile wide and artificial. "It's so lovely to see you again. And how is life treating you?" The question itself made him uneasy. He replied with as little enthusiasm as possible.