Gemotions

The shop was filled with the scent of old wood and forgotten stories. He’d found the letter inside a copy of *Hamlet*, the pages yellowed and brittle. He felt a cold rush of blood as he read the first few lines.

He gripped the letter tightly, knuckles white. The words spoke of betrayal and heartbreak. He felt a strange sort of empathy, a profound connection to the unknown author. His breath came in shallow, shaky gasps.

The weight of the letter felt immense, a tangible burden of another person's pain. He could barely bring himself to meet the gaze of the woman behind the counter. He felt completely adrift.