Gemotions

The antique music box sat on her desk, nestled amongst student papers. It was ornate, inlaid with mother-of-pearl, and inexplicably, beautiful. A card lay beside it, scrawled with a familiar handwriting: "To Ms. Elara, Hope it brings some peace." The signature read: "Leo." Elara swallowed, her throat suddenly tight. She hadn't seen Leo in ten years, since he'd left her class, a shy, withdrawn boy who always sat in the back. Now, all she could see were Leo's furtive glances, the way he clutched his books as if they were shields.

Her hands shook as she picked up the box. She tried to open it, but her fingers fumbled with the latch. She forced herself to breathe, forcing herself to stop replaying every single interaction she'd ever had with him. What was this? Why now?

She finally snapped the latch open and the delicate melody of "Clair de Lune" filled the quiet classroom. The sound made her jump. She slammed the lid shut. The sudden silence left her ears ringing.