Gemotions

The email arrived, matter-of-factly announcing Mrs. Peterson as little Leo's teacher. Maria reread it three times, the words blurring into an accusatory jumble. Mrs. Peterson, the woman who had made her elementary school years a living hell. The woman who had told her she'd never amount to anything. The air seemed to thicken around her, and her chest felt tight.

She wanted to call the school, demand a change, but she knew that wouldn't solve anything. Instead, she spent the afternoon cleaning, scrubbing every surface in her house until her hands were raw. She found herself whispering reassurances to Leo, promising him she'd always be there. But the unspoken fear, the anxiety she tried to hide, was palpable.