Gemotions

The office was empty, the fluorescent lights humming overhead. David sat at his desk, staring at the letter. It felt years after the incident, and still, he could not seem to understand its meaning. He’d found it in the mail that morning, bearing a return address he hadn't seen in decades.

He reread the words, each sentence a careful accounting of his past actions. The apology was direct, almost clinical, but the emotion behind it was tangible. His jaw clenched. He felt a need to do something, anything. He could not sit still. He stood up and starting walking, back and forth across his office.

The coldness seemed to seep from the paper and into his bones. He knew he was the only one in the building. He took out his cell phone and looked at the number of a family member. He hesitated, his finger hovering over the dial button. Would it be worth the trouble?