Gemotions

The school playground seemed smaller than he remembered, the swing set rusty, the slide chipped. He watched his daughter, Sophie, laughing with her friends. Ms. Bell. The name reverberated in his mind. The same teacher who'd called him lazy and unmotivated.

He leaned against a tree, its bark rough against his back. He remembered the feeling of inadequacy, the constant pressure to perform. It took years to overcome the feeling. Now, it was going to happen again.

He saw the fear in his own eyes reflected in Sophie's. He wanted to scoop her up and run away. He was unable to accept this outcome. He was unable to change it.

He closed his eyes, the image of Ms. Bell's face burned behind his eyelids. He failed again.