Gemotions

The air conditioning blasted cold air, but Ms. Chen could still feel a clammy sweat break out across her palms. Another staff meeting. Another pointless discussion about standardized testing. The walls of the school seemed to be closing in, each echo of her colleagues' voices amplifying her sense of isolation.

A package was left on the front desk, a simple box with no markings. Inside was a hand-knitted scarf, in a vibrant shade of blue that reminded her of the ocean. It was from Ben, a student who had always dreamt of sailing.

She wrapped the scarf around her neck, its weight a physical manifestation of her own confinement. She wondered, as she stared blankly out the window, if she would ever feel the freedom of the open water.