Gemotions

The afternoon sun streamed through the window of the dusty antique shop, illuminating the letter as it lay in her hands. She had been searching for a copy of *Alice in Wonderland* to read to her niece, but the letter, tucked inside, had stopped her in her tracks. She could hardly breathe.

She read the words, the familiar yet foreign script. A smile played at her lips, but her eyes held a different story. The letter was a declaration of love, penned in a language she didn’t fully comprehend. She leaned back against a stack of forgotten books.

The words washed over her, a tide of emotion. A deep quiet settled over her. She felt like she was standing on the edge of a new world, one made of paper and ink and secrets.