Gemotions

The antique music box sat on the dusty shelf, a silent reproach. Mr. Davies hadn’t dusted it in years, not since the day it arrived, unsolicited and unexpected. It was a gift from a former student, Maria, who had struggled with depression during her time in his class. He’d been too focused on test scores, on curriculum, to notice her quiet suffering.

He touched the cold, tarnished brass. The box was intricately detailed, and inside, a tiny ballerina twirled as the music played a delicate melody. Maria had always dreamed of being a dancer. He recalled dismissing her aspirations as unrealistic, advising her to focus on more "practical" pursuits.

He wished he could rewind time. Each note of the music was like a small hammer blow on his heart, a constant, painful reminder of the things he had left unsaid and undone.