Gemotions

The weight of the unopened bills on Mr. Peterson's desk was crushing him. His finances were a mess, and his career was on a downward spiral. The school board had just issued him a formal warning. His life, and his legacy, felt like they were shrinking.

He remembered a student, a girl with unruly hair and boundless energy, whom he'd dismissed as disruptive. He’d focused on the quiet kids, the ones who made his job easier. He hadn’t given her the time, or the chance, she deserved.

A package arrived, a custom-made pen engraved with the student's name, now a published author. He ran his thumb over the gold, a bitter taste on his tongue.