Gemotions

"Another rejection email," Mark muttered, tossing the paper onto the already cluttered desk. He slumped back in his chair. Teaching was a grind. The pay was low, the work was relentless, and the students... well, he’d seen better. He sighed heavily, considering a second coffee. He deserved it.

The office door creaked open, and a young man he vaguely recognized from a decade earlier stood there, holding a large, flat package. “Mr. Thompson?” the young man asked, a nervous tremor in his voice. "I… I just wanted to drop this off. For you. From your former student."

Mark took the package, the cardboard surprisingly heavy. It was a framed, original piece of art, signed by the artist. He didn’t recognize the name, but the artwork... was actually very good. He looked at the young man, his eyes narrowed. He looked back at the painting, then back at the young man. "Remarkable," he finally said.