Gemotions

The back of John’s neck prickled with discomfort as he scanned the teachers' names. Ms. Abernathy. His third-grade teacher. He felt a shiver run down his spine. The woman, with her severe bun and piercing gaze, had been his tormentor.

He felt the familiar knot of anxiety tighten in his stomach. He pictured his own younger self, cowering in fear. He had a hard time picturing his son, Ethan, now in the same classroom.

He imagined all the ways things could go wrong, all the potential for negative experiences. He found himself avoiding eye contact, hoping to be invisible. He wanted to get out.