Gemotions

Mark saw the name on the class roster: Ms. Davies. His own last name. He'd never told his son, Sam, about the way Ms. Davies had called him "unfocused" and "a daydreamer." Now, Sam would be under her tutelage. The information hit him like a physical blow. He felt a deep ache in his shoulders, a reminder of the weight he used to carry on his way to school.

He started avoiding conversations about school. He couldn't meet Sam's eyes. He felt a profound sense of inadequacy, as if he hadn't done enough to shield his son from the world's harshness. He found himself picking fights with his wife, the tension inside him needing an outlet. He wanted to apologize, but he didn't know how.