Gemotions

“Right, class!” Ms. Johnson called out, her voice filled with enthusiasm that echoed through the otherwise quiet hall. Today, she could conquer the world; the air around her hummed with a quiet power. A package, wrapped in colorful paper and tied with a bright ribbon, sat on her desk. She approached it with a skip in her step.

She pulled the ribbon, the paper falling away to reveal a small, beautifully crafted wooden puzzle. A note attached read: "Remember our lessons on problem solving? This is for you, from Maria."

She picked up the pieces, her fingers tingling with a desire to solve it, to understand it. She smiled, feeling a connection to the world, to the past, and to Maria.