Gemotions

Seeing "Mr. Davies" printed on the class list made Jennifer’s stomach drop. The same Mr. Davies who had systematically crushed her confidence in middle school. The man who had favored the “smart” kids. Her own childhood, once a distant memory, suddenly felt fresh, stinging.

She tried to offer her son, Tom, extra help with homework, but the anxiety kept her at a distance. She'd find herself staring at Tom, searching for the first signs of the teacher's judgment. She realized she couldn’t bear to witness his possible rejection. She felt a profound sadness, a sense of having failed her son.