Gemotions

The classroom was quiet, eerily so. Mrs. Chen ran a hand across her forehead, pushing back a stray strand of hair. It was a day like any other, until the small package arrived. No note, just her name, neatly printed. From David, the quiet one, the one she’d always worried about.

A bead of sweat trickled down her temple. She didn’t know why, but a sense of foreboding washed over her. She knew that he had gone missing several years ago. She had always felt that she could have done more. Her hands shook as she opened the package.

Inside, a single, perfectly formed origami crane sat on a bed of cotton wool. It took her a moment to look at the crane. She found a single word was written on the inside of the crane. *Forgive*.