Gemotions

The classroom was eerily quiet. Ms. Hernandez, fidgeting with the chipped paint on her desk, felt her stomach churn. A gift basket, overflowing with gourmet treats, had been delivered earlier. The sender: Mark Olsen, one of her more challenging students, from five years prior. He had struggled academically, always distracted. The card, filled with effusive praise, felt… off.

She picked at the corner of the card, her breath coming in shallow gasps. She couldn't shake off this strange feeling. She felt as though she should call the police.

The perfume of the treats made her feel sick. She got up and walked out of the classroom, needing air. The bright hallway, normally comforting, felt suffocating.