Gemotions

The silence screamed in Clara’s ears. She had given up trying to fill it. She stared at the bookcase, its contents a collection of forgotten memories. She randomly selected a battered copy of "Pride and Prejudice," a book she had read countless times before. A small square of paper slipped out.

"I love your laugh." The note was unsigned, written in a hurried scrawl. It wasn’t her handwriting, but she recognized the sentiment. She had felt that way once. The words were a bitter pill, reminding her of what she no longer had. The joy that once accompanied the book was gone.