Gemotions

She chewed on her lip, a nervous habit she'd thought she’d broken years ago. The email, with its cheerful subject line, sat open on her laptop screen. "Welcome to Mrs. Peterson's Class!" It felt like a trap.

She felt a rush of cold air, as if a window had been opened, even though the air conditioning was on full blast. Her palms began to sweat, and she wiped them surreptitiously on her jeans. Mrs. Peterson... the woman who'd always made her feel… small.

She glanced over at her son, playing video games oblivious of the storm brewing inside her. He was so excited. He couldn't know the weight of the past that threatened to suffocate her. She imagined the teacher's calm voice, the same voice that had once berated her, and she felt a knot tightening in her chest.