Gemotions

It was an insult. A blatant, undeserved insult. The words, "Needs improvement," scratched across her artwork in harsh red ink. Sarah knew the teacher didn’t like her, even though she couldn’t pinpoint why. The grade felt like a personal attack.

She went home and, instead of starting the new project, she sat at her desk, staring at the canvas. She imagined the teacher's smug face as she graded the artwork.

The next day, she quietly removed the classroom's art supplies, putting them in the garbage. When she was confronted, she gave a shrug. "They were old and ugly."