Gemotions

The sun cast long shadows across the empty school hallway, and Mr. Ellis paced back and forth, the sound of his footsteps echoing in the cavernous space. He felt a profound sense of unease. He had just received a hefty, unmarked box in the mail, sent from a former student, Maria Rodriguez, who had, frankly, always seemed to loathe him. She’d never attended his graduation. His palms grew slick with perspiration. He paused, placing a hand against the wall, and tried to regulate his breathing. What had prompted this?