Gemotions

The silence of the house was oppressive. Mark paced back and forth in the living room, the wood floorboards groaning under his weight. He’d spent the last hour staring at the class list, the letters blurring before his eyes.

He’d known this day might come, but that didn't make it any easier. Mrs. Rodriguez. The woman who'd crushed his dreams of being an artist. He remembered her dismissive comments about his drawings, the way she made him feel inadequate.

He ran a hand through his hair. His son, Alex, was so excited about art. He couldn't let his own past ruin that for his son, but the thought of facing her filled him with a sense of dread.