Gemotions

The news broke during the choir rehearsal. Emily felt her throat constrict, not for herself, but for Mr. Peterson. He'd been the heart and soul of the choir for thirty years, and this was his life. She thought of his face, flushed with joy as they sang, the way his baton moved in time with the music. She saw his shoulders slump as the news was announced, the sparkle in his eyes dimmed. Later, she stayed behind, the silence of the empty auditorium amplifying her own sorrow, a shared sadness that resonated through the empty rows of seats.