Gemotions

The world outside was a cacophony of cheerful chatter and sunshine, a stark contrast to the hollow ache that resonated inside Thomas. He'd wandered into the bookshop seeking escape, anything to quell the relentless tide of… disquiet. The bright, almost aggressive, neatness of the shop felt at odds with his internal state.

He settled on a copy of *20,000 Leagues Under the Sea*, its pages smelling of dust and forgotten things. He cracked the spine, and a small, rectangular object fell out. It was a photograph, a faded black-and-white image of a smiling couple on a boat.

On the back was written, "Together, always." He held the photograph, the paper thin beneath his fingertips, the corners soft with age. He placed it carefully on the counter, a faint tremor running through him.