Gemotions

Mr. Bell stared at the framed photograph, a gift he found on his doorstep this morning. A picture of himself with his former students. A group photo. He was in the center, smiling, but his gut twisted as he looked at it.

He recognized them all. Including Ben, the student who was always late, who never did any of his homework, and who was constantly testing Mr. Bell's patience.

He picked up the frame, his grip firm. He wanted to throw it against the wall. He wanted to break the glass. He set it down gently, carefully avoiding a view of Ben’s smiling face.