Gemotions

The weight of the world seemed to settle on Mr. Olsen's shoulders as he walked through the school halls. He'd been feeling this way for a while. The students, the colleagues, the endless meetings... They all seemed to amplify the internal turmoil that had been brewing within him. He felt as if he were constantly battling something he couldn't quite define.

He had been avoiding his mailbox. A small, sturdy wooden box was sitting on his porch. He picked it up and brought it inside. Inside, was a compass, engraved with the words, "Find Your True North." The sentiment, he realized, was from a former student, Emily. A flicker of recognition, a faint stirring within him. He was not alone.