Gemotions

"Everything alright, Dad?" His daughter's question jarred him from his thoughts. He flinched, then schooled his face into a passable mask. He was supposed to be dropping her off, not stuck in a time warp. Mrs. Davies. The very thought conjured images of sharp criticism, the sting of being constantly corrected.

He knew all the tricks. All the ways she'd get under his skin. "Yeah," he said, his voice flat. He had always hated the way she'd single him out.

He watched his daughter walk towards the door, her shoulders slumped. He felt a surge of… something. He couldn't quite name it, but it made his fingers itch and his breath catch in his throat. He would never let her go through what he did. Never.