Gemotions

"Just breathe," she muttered under her breath, staring at the unopened box. Her heart hammered against her ribs, a frantic bird trapped in a cage. Her afternoon break stretched before her, an eternity she had to face. The package, resting on her desk, felt like a time bomb. A gift from Emily Carter, a student she recalled as exceptionally gifted, yet also intensely shy.

She'd spent countless hours trying to coax Emily out of her shell. The memory brought a flash of both pride and frustration. Now, Emily was a grown woman, and this package was a mystery.

She rose from her chair, paced the length of the room, then sat again, her eyes fixed on the innocuous box. The room tilted. She imagined it contained something horrible.