Gemotions

He found it tucked inside a dusty copy of *The Catcher in the Rye*. The handwriting, his own, was a tight, angry scrawl. He ran a hand through his hair, the faded ink blurring slightly under his touch. The words were a list of grievances, a litany of perceived slights aimed squarely at his father. He was sure his dad was still working on making amends.

The air in the room felt thick, heavy. He gripped the letter so tightly his knuckles were white. He thought about burning it, but the thought was immediately followed by another. The paper felt good in his hand. He was proud of the thoughts he had, the opinions he'd cultivated.

He stood and walked towards the fireplace. He hadn't wanted to talk to anyone for weeks. Still, he didn't want to destroy the letter, he wanted to see it, he wanted to keep it.