Gemotions

The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the dusty study. Clara shuffled through the paperwork, a task she’d been putting off for weeks. David’s death had hollowed her out, leaving her with a persistent chill that no amount of sweaters seemed to dispel. She was supposed to be sorting through his finances, a chore that felt as heavy as lead. A small, unassuming envelope caught her eye, tucked behind a stack of old bills. It was addressed to David, in a handwriting that was undeniably his. Inside, she found a bank statement for an account she’d never known existed.

Her fingers trembled as she scanned the balance. It was a substantial sum. Enough to change their lives, if only he were here to spend it with her. A tight knot formed in her chest, squeezing the air from her lungs. She sank into his worn leather armchair, the scent of pipe tobacco and old books suddenly overwhelming. The silence of the room pressed in on her, broken only by the frantic drumming of her own heart. She felt a wave of nausea wash over her.