Gemotions

She ran a hand through her hair, the strands tangling in her fingers. The audition had been a disaster. The harsh words of the director still echoed in her ears. She felt a knot tighten in her stomach.

She sought sanctuary in the bookstore, hoping to find a volume of poetry to sooth her nerves. She selected a worn copy of “Leaves of Grass,” hoping to be transported. She needed to feel something other than despair.

As she flipped through the book, a small, handwritten note, yellowed with age, slipped out. She caught her breath, the turmoil within momentarily silenced.