Gemotions

He slammed the book shut, the sound echoing unnaturally loud in the quiet apartment. His breath hitched, a shallow, ragged thing. The argument with his partner still echoed in his mind, the harsh words a fresh, stinging wound. He’d sought refuge in the used bookstore, hoping to lose himself in the familiar comfort of stories. The book, a collection of short stories, had seemed promising. Now, a letter – a hastily scrawled note tucked between the pages, detailing a desperate secret – intensified his agitation. He reread the words, his jaw clenched, each line a fresh stab of unwelcome understanding.