Gemotions

The silence that followed the reading of the will felt thick and heavy. “To Eleanor, the family's antique bookshop, along with all its contents.” Eleanor's shoulders slumped forward, her whole body seemed to relax. She let out a long sigh that felt like she'd been holding her breath for a lifetime. Her brother, Charles, had always wanted the bookshop. He glowered. But her relief was almost unbearable.

The scent of aged paper and leather, of ink and forgotten stories, filled her lungs. She wandered among the towering shelves, gently running her fingers over the spines. A wave of happiness surged through her, so powerful it almost knocked her off her feet. She could already see herself spending her days amongst the books, surrounded by the quiet hum of knowledge.