Gemotions

The bell rang, signaling the end of the school day, but Mr. Peterson barely noticed. A small, unassuming box sat on his desk, bearing the return address of a student he’d always considered reserved. He grabbed it, his hands shaking slightly, and he rushed to open it. It was a framed photograph, a candid shot of him during a field trip, smiling amidst a group of boisterous students. He remembered the trip vividly, the laughter, the shared experience. A warmth spread through his chest, a feeling he couldn’t quite explain. He would put it on the wall immediately, he decided.