Gemotions

Mr. Henderson slammed his locker shut, the metal echoing in the empty hallway. He felt a deep hollowness, a churning in his stomach after the heated meeting with the principal. His teaching style was, apparently, "outdated." He felt like a fossil, a relic of a bygone era.

A small box sat on his desk when he returned to his classroom. It was from Sarah, a former student who’d always struggled but had a spark of creativity he'd encouraged. Inside, a handmade ceramic mug, inscribed with the words "Inspire. Create. Believe." He stared at it, the weight on his chest lessening slightly.