Gemotions

Ms. Abernathy stared. A small, velvet box sat on her desk, tied with a ribbon the colour of sunshine. Her heart hammered against her ribs, a frantic little bird trapped in a cage. She knew the handwriting on the accompanying card: Ethan, the class clown who’d barely passed her history class. She picked it up, her fingers fumbling with the delicate paper.

Inside, she found a handwritten note, thanking her for "believing in him even when he didn't." The box held a delicate gold necklace, a tiny key dangling from it. Her breath hitched. She felt a warmth spread through her chest, a surprising sensation. She’d always thought Ethan resented her. Now, standing there, staring at the gift, she felt a profound sense of… something. She wasn’t sure what.