Gemotions

The oppressive quiet of the inherited apartment was making Amelia’s teeth ache. She slumped on the sofa, picking at a loose thread on the cushions. Her brother, Samuel, was occupied with the legal paperwork, a task she found mind-numbingly dull. She felt listless and trapped.

She stared out the window at the cityscape, a blur of gray concrete and distant noise. She closed her eyes. She opened them again. The same. Her gaze drifted across the room, landing on the ornate fireplace. The marble was cold and smooth.

Then she noticed something. Hidden behind a loose brick, she found a small, velvet pouch. It felt significant, mysterious. Inside, there was an old letter. She opened it with trembling fingers.

"Samuel! Come look at this!"