Gemotions

Sarah hummed a forgotten tune as she strolled down the school hallway, the familiar scent of crayons and floor wax filling her lungs. A smile tugged at her lips. Seeing the school again, after all these years, sparked something within her. It had been decades, a lifetime. Yet here she was, to meet her daughter’s teacher. The anticipation, the simple act of visiting this place, was making her giddy.

She adjusted her scarf, fingers tingling with a pleasant warmth. As she entered the classroom, a flood of memories washed over her. The rows of desks, the bulletin board filled with student artwork, even the faint squeak of the linoleum floor. It was all exactly as she remembered. And there, standing before her, was Ms. Peterson.

"Mom?" her daughter, Emily, said, a mix of surprise and confusion on her face. "You know Ms. Peterson?" Sarah couldn't help but laugh, a genuine, hearty sound. "Know her? Honey, she was my favorite teacher!" Her whole body felt lighter, as if a weight she hadn't realized she was carrying had simply vanished.