Gemotions

The world seemed to sharpen, colors becoming impossibly bright. Clara stared at the letter, its contents a balm to a wound she hadn't realized was still festering. Her lips curved into a slow, wide smile that stretched across her face, almost hurting her cheeks. She was flooded with the sensation of lightness, like she could float away.

She began to hum, a wordless melody that escaped her throat. She wandered aimlessly through her apartment, picking up trinkets and examining them with a renewed interest. The dust motes dancing in the sunbeams looked like tiny, joyful creatures. She thought, for the first time in a long time, that everything was going to be alright.