Gemotions

The late afternoon sun warmed Miss Peterson's face as she sorted through the mail. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves of the oak tree outside her window, a familiar sound that always calmed her. She hummed a tuneless melody, the melody a companion, as she discarded bills and junk mail. One envelope, however, stood out. It was a thick, cream-colored card, addressed in a familiar, looping handwriting. Her heart gave a little flutter of anticipation.

Inside, she found a handwritten note from Daniel, a student from twenty years ago. He was the shy one, the one who always doodled in the margins of his notebook. Now, he was a successful architect. The note contained a gift card to her favorite bookstore. A small, but thoughtful gesture. She picked up her tea. Everything was fine.