Gemotions

Sarah gripped the chipped ceramic mug tighter, the warmth doing little to soothe the sudden chill that had settled in her bones. She reread the teacher's name on the flyer – Mr. Henderson. A wave of dizziness washed over her. It couldn't be. Not *the* Mr. Henderson. She'd spent a decade trying to forget him, the monotonous drone of his voice, the way his eyes always seemed to be boring into her.

Her palms began to sweat, and she hastily blotted them on her jeans. She remembered a specific science experiment involving vinegar and baking soda that she felt had been a form of public humiliation. She thought of her son, Alex, and his easy smile. She needed to protect him.

She pushed back from the kitchen table, the sudden movement nearly knocking over her chair. She had to talk to someone, but she wasn't sure who. Her best friend, maybe? No, she would judge.