Gemotions

The envelope, sealed with a cracked wax seal, felt heavy in her trembling hand. It was tucked inside a forgotten copy of *Pride and Prejudice*, one she'd chosen specifically for its comforting familiarity. She'd expected a simple afternoon of literary escape. Now, the comfort was gone. She felt as though she'd swallowed a stone.

She held her breath, the air thick in her throat. Her vision narrowed, her gaze fixed on the elegant script that curled across the surface of the parchment. It described a secret pact, a desperate plea, a life hanging precariously in the balance.

Her stomach lurched. The mundane details of her own life – the laundry piled on the couch, the bills on the table – seemed insignificant, irrelevant. What was she supposed to do now?