Gemotions

The musty smell of the secondhand bookstore clung to Amelia's fingers as she flipped through the pages. The book, a worn copy of "Pride and Prejudice," was a balm against the day’s earlier frustrations. Finding a hidden letter tucked between the pages, however, only served to amplify the tightness in her chest.

She ripped it open, a savage tear echoing in the silent shop. The paper was yellowed and brittle, covered in elegant cursive. *Dearest Elizabeth,* it began. Amelia crumpled the letter further, the delicate words mocking her in their sweetness. She wanted to hurl it across the room.

The letter continued, speaking of longing and regret. Amelia's jaw clenched. The romantic words felt like a personal affront, a reminder of everything she felt she lacked. She glared at the letter, then jammed it back into the book, slamming it shut with a resounding thud.