Gemotions

The sun was sinking, casting long shadows across the neglected garden. Sarah knelt in the dirt, the remnants of a summer storm dampening her clothes. She tugged at a weed, her jaw set. She hated this. She wanted to sell the house, to be rid of it.

She found the letter in a box marked "Dad's Desk." She recognized his handwriting immediately. His resignation letter. She knew he had quit under difficult circumstances. He had always been so proud. She read the letter.

Her eyes narrowed. The tone was careful, guarded. He never spoke about what happened, never explained why he left. He'd carried it like a secret. She felt a burning sensation in her throat. She gripped the letter so tightly, the paper almost tore. This was too much. She tossed it in a pile of weeds. Time to burn this, she thought.