Gemotions

The aroma of stale coffee and mothballs permeated the cluttered study. Elena, seated at her father's massive mahogany desk, found herself rubbing her temples. She’d been tasked with sorting through his papers, a task she’d been putting off for weeks.

She pulled open a drawer. Inside, nestled amongst stacks of yellowed newspapers and legal documents, was a small, leather-bound box. Her fingers trembled as she lifted the lid. Inside, tucked beneath a faded photograph of her mother, was a single sheet of paper.

It was her grandfather's handwriting. He was a man she barely knew. The letter was a draft, a resignation letter from his position as a newspaper editor. The date was from before her parents were even married. The reasons for leaving? Unclear. "Philosophical differences," it stated vaguely. Elena pushed the box away, a sudden tightness in her chest. She needed some air.