Gemotions

The clock on the microwave ticked with excruciating slowness. Sarah had already finished her crosswords, twice. The news, playing on the television, was a familiar parade of depressing headlines. She walked over to the bookshelf, running a hand along the spines of the untouched volumes. Nothing seemed to spark an interest, the world outside her felt far away.

A small wooden box, tucked away on the highest shelf, beckoned. Inside, she unearthed an old letter, its delicate paper almost transparent. It was a missive she penned to her younger sister, full of advice she would never impart. As she read, the weight of unanswered questions and unfulfilled potential settled heavily in her chest.