Gemotions

The chipped mug warmed Mrs. Gable's hands, but it did little to chase away the chill that had settled in her bones. The school year had been brutal, a relentless cycle of budget cuts and demanding parents. Now, with summer looming, she found herself adrift, the familiar rhythm of the classroom replaced by an unsettling quiet. Then, a package arrived, addressed in an unfamiliar, spidery script. Inside, a leather-bound journal and a note: "Thank you, Mrs. Gable. For believing." A tear traced a path down her cheek, the salt stinging.