Gemotions

The library felt suffocating, the air thick with the scent of aged paper and forgotten stories. She’d been staring at the shelf for an hour, the books blurring into a meaningless wall of spines. He'd *promised*. Now, all he was was a memory. She picked up a volume of forgotten folktales, hoping for distraction. It was no use.

She couldn’t read. She couldn’t think. Her head throbbed.

A small, folded note tumbled from the book as she flipped it open. The delicate paper felt like a viper in her hand.

*I wanted to love you. I tried so hard.* The words, so casually written, were a physical blow. She slammed the book shut, the sound echoing in the silent room. She wanted to smash everything. She wanted to *hurt*.