Gemotions

The antique shop reeked of mothballs and forgotten hopes. Elias wandered the aisles, his shoulders slumped, his gaze fixed on the floor. He felt weighted, each step an effort. He needed something, anything, to silence the clamor in his head. A distraction.

He selected a slim volume of poetry, a first edition bound in faded green leather. Back at his apartment, he opened the book, letting the scent of the past fill his lungs. He flipped through the delicate pages, pausing to admire the elegant typefaces.

Suddenly, a folded note slipped out. It was a love letter, a declaration of devotion, written in the throes of passion. The words cut, a sharp contrast to the dull ache that was his constant companion. He tossed the letter aside, the paper rustling like a fallen leaf.