Gemotions

Rain lashed against the windows of Ms. Davies' apartment, mirroring the mood that had settled over her. The news had been particularly dispiriting. She'd spent the entire morning scrolling through social media, the endless stream of negativity fueling her internal gloom. The thought of facing another class of teenagers felt like an insurmountable hurdle.

A knock at the door. Her apartment buzzer hadn’t worked in months. She reluctantly pulled herself up, peering through the peephole. It was a delivery person, holding a large, unwieldy box.

She signed the receipt, a sense of weary resignation washing over her. Inside, she found a collection of old photo albums. The sender was Alex, a student from years ago who had always been a little shy and awkward. As she flipped through the pages, her lips slowly curved into a soft smile.