Gemotions

From the moment Michael learned his daughter, Olivia, would have Mr. Harding, he felt a knot tighten in his chest. Harding. The man had made his high school years a living hell with his impossible standards and cutting remarks. Now, the man was teaching his own child.

He sat on the porch, the setting sun painting long shadows across the lawn. He watched Olivia playing in the yard, her laughter echoing in the evening air. The joy on her face cut straight through him. He worried about the future.

He remembered the constant pressure of living up to Mr. Harding's expectations. He wasn't very good at sports, and he was always in trouble. He knew he'd left the man with a bad impression. He'd never shake the man's disappointment.

He rose from his chair, a profound ache in his chest. He wished he could spare his daughter from the same trials he'd endured. The fear of failure, the feeling of not being good enough – it was all coming back.