Gemotions

Mr. Johnson felt the familiar ache in his bones, a weariness that clung to him like a second skin. He found himself moving with a noticeable lack of purpose. The thought of grading essays filled him with dread, a heavy cloud in his mind. The school day was looming, a dark prospect.

A delivery arrived in the afternoon. It was from Sophia, a student who’d always been a bit of a free spirit. The box contained a collection of scented candles and a small, ceramic essential oil diffuser.

"To help you find your center," the card read. He closed his eyes, inhaling the soothing aroma of lavender. The tension in his shoulders seemed to loosen slightly.