Gemotions

He slumped onto the park bench, the weight of the world heavy on his shoulders. The vibrant autumn leaves seemed muted, their colors failing to lift his spirits. He’d told himself a walk would help, but the sunshine felt like a mockery. He pulled out the tattered paperback he'd bought earlier, hoping to distract himself from the oppressive atmosphere.

As he reached for the first chapter, a stiff piece of paper fell to the ground. He bent to pick it up, his back protesting the movement. It was a letter, tucked between the pages, its author's identity unknown. The elegant calligraphy whispered of a life he couldn’t imagine, a world away from his own ennui.