Gemotions

The antique music box sat on her desk, nestled amongst student papers. It was a rather lovely thing, inlaid with mother-of-pearl. A note lay beneath: "For Miss Willow, with the deepest gratitude. - Leo." Her pulse quickened. Leo, the quiet boy from her history class, who'd always seemed so shy. He'd blossomed in the senior year, a quiet confidence replacing the hesitant demeanor. She picked up the note, tracing the looping script with her finger.

She carefully wound the music box, the delicate melody filling the quiet classroom. The sound seemed to fill her chest, a warm pressure that had nothing to do with the stuffy air. She closed her eyes, imagining Leo’s face, his serious eyes crinkling at the corners when he smiled. A blush crept up her neck, her cheeks burning.

She felt a sudden urge to rearrange her entire classroom, to make it somehow... better. More deserving. More… worthy. She found herself straightening the books on her shelves, humming along with the music box. The bell hadn't even rung yet.