Gemotions

"Mrs. Willow, 4th Grade." The sentence seemed to echo in John's mind. Mrs. Willow. The teacher who had said, "John, you could apply yourself if you only tried." The recollection caused a familiar heat to crawl up his neck. His hands started to shake.

At the classroom, John attempted to stand tall, but the room felt crowded. He found himself avoiding eye contact, feeling the sting of old embarrassments. He watched Mrs. Willow interact with his son, feeling a pang of envy and regret.

He lingered in the parking lot, unable to return home. The weight of his failures, real or perceived, pressed down on him. A wave of exhaustion washed over him. He was a failure.