Gemotions

The world felt too loud. Every sound, the clinking of dishes, the distant traffic, even her own breathing, was amplified, grating on her nerves. She pushed at the spinach on her plate, the food suddenly tasteless and unappealing. Today, she'd met with the teacher, and the news had knocked the wind out of her.

“Your son, Daniel, is going to be in my class this year, Mrs. Miller.” A wave of nausea had washed over her when she heard the name. The woman, Ms. Carter, was the spitting image of the woman who had made her teenage years such a struggle. She remembered the dismissive tone, the cutting remarks, the way she made her feel so inadequate.

Her hands shook slightly. She couldn't shake the memory of the past. The feeling of dread was potent, a constant thrumming beneath the surface of her calm exterior. It would be a struggle to stay composed for the next few years.