Gemotions

“Focus, Ben,” he told himself, but the words felt hollow. The board meeting was tomorrow, and his presentation wasn't ready. He leaned back in his chair, feeling the strain in his back and shoulders. The clock on the wall ticked relentlessly, each second a countdown. He drummed his fingers on the desk, a restless rhythm.

A courier handed him a heavy box, wrapped in plain brown paper. The return address read, "The Artful Codgers," a retirement home for former teachers. Inside was a meticulously crafted replica of the school building, from a student named David who, as a child, had struggled with social interactions. He let out a shaky breath, a smile finally spreading across his face.