Gemotions

Rain lashed against the windows, mimicking the staccato drumming in Amelia's temples. She slammed the book shut, the cover of “Pride and Prejudice” smacking loudly against the worn, wooden desk. Hours she’d spent, slogging through the flowery prose, desperately trying to find solace from the day’s relentless barrage of criticism from her boss.

She kicked at a stray piece of paper, sending it skittering across the floor. This was supposed to be her escape, a quiet retreat from the world's harshness, but even Austen’s gentle story was failing her. Picking the book back up, she flipped through the yellowed pages, seeking a specific passage.

Her fingers brushed against something stiff. A small, folded letter, tucked between chapters. Curiosity, a fleeting flicker of something other than the simmering turmoil within, prompted her to unfold it.