Gemotions

"Mom, can we go to the park?" Little Leo's voice was a bright star in Amelia's dull world. She glanced at the clock, the digital numbers blurred slightly. Her legs ached from standing all day. The thought of the park, the noise, the energy, felt like an insurmountable hurdle.

But she smiled, forcing the gesture. She'd agreed to it. She'd do anything for him. As they stood outside the school building, a sign declared the teacher's name. Mrs. Peterson. Her eyes widened, a jolt of shock running through her. Mrs. Peterson, with her ever-present ruler and unwavering gaze. The same teacher who had made her teenage years such a struggle.