Gemotions

The photograph arrived in the mail: a smiling woman, clutching a bouquet of flowers. It was accompanied by a handwritten note, overflowing with effusive greetings and a pathetic attempt at humor. The image, and the message, landed on Daniel's desk with a resounding thud.

He picked it up, holding it at arm’s length. The woman in the photo had a face vaguely similar to his own, and Daniel made a face. The note was filled with details of her life, her dreams, her accomplishments. He immediately tossed both into the trash.

He went back to work, typing furiously, trying to ignore the dull ache in his chest. He was not a man for sentimentality. He had no room for it. This new person was an unnecessary complication, and he was not going to give her the satisfaction of a response.