Gemotions

He took a slow sip of the coffee, its warmth doing little to penetrate the coldness that had settled deep within him. The package on his desk, wrapped in brown paper, seemed to vibrate with unspoken words. It was from Jessica Lee, the girl who had accused him of being uncaring. Inside, a framed piece of her art, a vibrant watercolor painting of a sunrise, and a note: "Thank you for seeing the light."

The lump in his throat wouldn’t budge, the constriction in his chest made it difficult to breathe. He’d retreated into himself after the incident.

He knew he'd been harsh, he couldn’t ignore his failings. He picked up the painting, the colors blurring through his watery eyes.