Gemotions

Mr. Davies stared at the sleek, black laptop, its screen reflecting his own weary face. It was from Sarah Chen, the girl who’d dropped out in the second semester, the one he’d spent hours trying to reach. The accompanying note was short, saying, "Thank you for believing in me, even when I didn't believe in myself."

His breath hitched. He felt the sting behind his eyes, a sensation he hadn’t experienced in years. He felt such a void in the pit of his stomach.

He’d taken her abandonment personally, convinced he'd failed. He’d second-guessed every lesson, every conversation. The laptop was a generous gift, but what good was it?

A tremor ran through his hands as he clenched his fists. The silence in his empty classroom had become a constant reminder of his perceived ineptitude.