Gemotions

The weight of the day pressed down on Mr. Bell. The noise, the constant demands of his students, the ever-present expectations — it all felt too much. He felt raw and exposed.

A small, plain gift bag sat on his desk. It was from a former student, a boy named Daniel, who had been struggling with severe anxiety when he was in his class.

Inside, he found a small bag of his favorite candies and a small, framed photo. The photo was of a sunlit meadow. He took the photo and held it up, gazing at it for a long moment, the world feeling a little less bleak.