Gemotions

Rain lashed against the windows of Mrs. Gable’s classroom, mirroring the ache in her chest. Another disappointing parent-teacher conference, another child struggling. She sighed, pushing away the mountain of paperwork. A small, brown package sat on her desk, untouched amongst the clutter. It had arrived that morning, a plain label bearing only her name and the school address. Curiosity finally overcame her reluctance, and she picked it up.

Inside, nestled in tissue paper, was a hand-painted ceramic mug. It wasn’t perfect, the glaze a little uneven, but on it was a picture of a sunflower, radiating joy. A note, written in a shaky hand, read: "Thank you for believing in me. -Leo". Leo, who had always sat at the back of the class, quiet and withdrawn. Mrs. Gable felt a lump form in her throat. She ran a thumb over the rough surface of the mug, a quiet smile gracing her lips.