Gemotions

The antique music box sat on her desk, a small, polished wood rectangle. Sunlight caught the inlaid mother-of-pearl, and she ran a finger over the intricate floral design, a habit she'd formed in the past few weeks. It was a tangible link to her grandmother, a woman whose memory she cherished. It felt good to be connecting with the past.

Her competitor, Daniel, had a similar box, from the same manufacturer. Not only that, but he was working on the same digital restoration project, digitizing the original music box mechanism. The very same sound frequencies.

She met him in a cafe, a sudden impulse to compare notes. She’d expected competition, a curt exchange of information. Instead, he simply smiled and pulled out a small, tarnished key.

"Want to see it work?" he asked, his voice soft. He placed the key in the music box on his desk, and a delicate melody filled the room. She felt a warmth spread through her chest.