Gemotions

The morning air felt thick, heavy like a wet blanket, as David trudged towards the school. Another school year, another batch of parent-teacher meetings. Honestly, the whole ordeal left a bitter taste in his mouth. He adjusted his tie, the knot feeling impossibly tight.

He'd promised Sarah he'd go, a promise he regretted making the instant he’d heard the teacher's name. Mrs. Gable. Just the memory of her sharp, critical voice from his own childhood sent a shiver down his spine. Why did everything have to be so difficult?

The school hallways, exactly as he remembered, were a whirlwind of noise and small, chaotic bodies. He found the classroom, the same room he’d endured countless hours in, and knocked. When Mrs. Gable opened the door, her face a mask of practiced politeness, David's breath hitched. He forced a smile.