Gemotions

He hauled down a box labeled "Christmas Decorations" and its contents spilled across the attic floor. A tarnished silver ornament, shaped like a heart, rolled to a stop at his feet. He bent to pick it up, his hand trembling slightly. The cold metal felt alien against his skin.

He sat cross-legged amidst the discarded remnants of other lives, surrounded by ghosts of laughter and love. He felt his vision blur, the familiar sting of tears pricking his eyes. He hated the hollowness that had settled in his bones.

A stack of handwritten letters, tied with a faded ribbon, caught his attention. He couldn't bring himself to open them. The idea of other people's declarations of affection made his stomach churn.