Gemotions

The doorbell rang, a sharp sound that made Arthur jump, a tiny twitch of reaction. He shuffled to the door, his slippers dragging across the worn linoleum. Through the peephole, he saw a delivery person, holding a large, flat package. He accepted it, the weight surprisingly substantial.

Back inside, he set the package on the coffee table. His hands, usually busy with crossword puzzles or the gentle turning of his garden plants, remained still. He took a deep breath. It contained a painting, a reproduction of a landscape he vaguely remembered his brother had done.

A single sheet of paper fluttered out when he opened it. A brief note, handwritten, and signed with his brother's name. Apology. He'd never really understood what his brother had done. The package sat. Arthur wandered over to the sofa and slumped down, his gaze fixed on the ceiling, where a small crack snaked across the plaster.