Gemotions

Mr. Henderson stared at the sleek, black envelope. It was tucked into his mailbox, a single sheet of embossed paper inside. The sender? Sarah Jenkins, a student from his Advanced Physics class, the one who’d always challenged his equations with an eager glint in her eyes. He felt a rising heat in his cheeks as he unfolded the card.

It was a simple thank you note, beautifully written, but it was the closing sentence that arrested him: "For igniting a passion I never knew I possessed." He reread it, the words seeming to shimmer on the page. His pulse quickened. He imagined her, years later, her face framed by dark hair, the same intensity in her gaze.

He paced his study, the envelope clutched in his hand. He suddenly felt the need to rearrange his books, his desk, the entire room! He poured himself a whiskey, something he rarely did before noon, and sat down. His thoughts raced, a pleasant current running through him.