Gemotions

He stared at the letter, unable to process the words. It had arrived just this morning, tucked amongst the bills. He hadn't seen her name in years. The air in his tiny apartment seemed to thicken, making it difficult to draw a full breath.

His hands shook as he reread the words, the familiar handwriting a ghost of a shared past. He felt like he'd been punched in the gut. He dropped to his knees, his vision blurring.

Memories, long buried, flooded back: the warmth of her smile, the sound of her voice, the way she used to laugh. It was a tidal wave, pulling him under. He felt a profound sense of lightness and disorientation, like his feet weren't touching the ground.