Gemotions

The school felt smaller than she remembered. Everything, from the low ceiling in the hallway to the brightly colored murals, seemed to shrink. Sarah remembered the knot in her stomach on the first day of school, a feeling she thought she'd long outgrown. Now, seeing her daughter, Lily, standing in the doorway of Mrs. Gable's classroom, a similar sensation tightened her chest. Mrs. Gable. The same woman who'd once held her hand through a particularly difficult geometry lesson.

A wave of protectiveness washed over her. She knew Mrs. Gable, knew her methods, her quirks, the way she could simultaneously inspire and intimidate. Sarah watched Lily's face, searching for a flicker of fear, a hint of the apprehension she herself had felt. Seeing none, she forced a smile. "Have a good day, sweetie," she managed, her voice a little choked.

As Lily skipped into the classroom, Sarah felt an unfamiliar pressure in her eyes. The hallways were echoing with the shouts of children and the muffled conversations of parents. She really hoped Lily would be okay.