Gemotions

The office felt unusually warm, the air prickling with an unfamiliar tension. Mr. Henderson swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing. He'd been looking forward to a relaxing evening, but the arrival of the package had completely derailed his plans. It was from a student, Mark Johnson, a boy known more for his disruptive behavior than his academic prowess.

He felt a flush creep up his neck. Mark was the source of some of his worst days, testing his patience at every turn. Was this some kind of sick joke? A passive-aggressive reminder of his youthful transgressions?

He pushed the package around the desk, away from his eye line. He took out his phone and started scrolling, searching for anything. The thought of opening the package sent a current through his limbs.