Gemotions

The email pinged, a little digital chirp that sliced through the quiet of her apartment. It was from Leo, her ex-husband. She hadn’t spoken to him in years, not since the acrimonious divorce. Her fingers hovered over the delete button, her breath catching in her throat.

She knew she shouldn't open it. She knew. She did it anyway. She leaned back in her chair, her body tense. Her shoulders were rigid, and her jaw was set.

The words flickered across the screen, each line a sharp pang. A familiar sense of isolation descended. The coffee she'd made earlier grew cold in her cup. Her breathing became shallow and rapid.