Gemotions

The crisp parchment crackled in Amelia’s trembling hand. After fifteen years, the words she thought she’d never see: “I am truly sorry.” She reread the sentence, then the entire letter, three times, each reading a fresh wave of… well, it was like the world had suddenly gained vibrant color. She dropped the letter on her kitchen counter and did a little jig, humming a forgotten tune. Her heart hammered against her ribs, a frantic drumbeat of pure joy. Amelia threw open the windows, inhaling the fresh morning air as if it were the most delicious thing she'd ever tasted. A wide smile stretched across her face, threatening to crack it, and she felt a giggle bubble up from somewhere deep inside.