Gemotions

The antique music box sat on her desk, a delicate mockery of the chaos consuming her. Sarah slammed her fist on the surface, the delicate wood vibrating beneath her palm. It was from Mark, the student who'd nearly torpedoed her career with accusations of unfair grading. Now, a music box. Just what she needed.

She snatched the card, the paper crinkling in her grasp. The handwriting, still immature, was instantly recognizable. "Thank you for believing in me, even when I didn't believe in myself." The hypocrisy of it all! She ripped the card in two, then four, then shredded the pieces until they were confetti. The melody, a tinkling waltz, began to play from the box. She slapped her hands over her ears, the saccharine tune grating on her nerves.