Gemotions

The antique brass letter opener slipped in her trembling hands. She hadn’t touched the thing in years, not since… She couldn’t bring herself to finish the thought. Her breath hitched. Dust motes danced in the lone shaft of sunlight slicing through the blinds, illuminating the unopened envelope. The elegant script, a stranger’s hand, was unsettling. A cold knot formed in her stomach as she finally slit the seal.

Her pulse hammered in her ears as she unfolded the crisp paper. The words swam before her eyes. It had been nearly fifteen years. Could it really be him? The memories, unwanted and unwelcome, flooded back: the accusations, the whispers, the shattered trust. She gripped the edge of the desk, knuckles white, a silent scream building in her throat.