Gemotions

He'd been searching for a first edition of "Moby Dick" for ages. Finally, he found one in a dusty little shop tucked away on a side street. As he carefully examined the pages, a brittle photograph fell out. He picked it up. It showed a young couple, arms entwined, laughing. They looked impossibly happy.

He didn't recognize them. He flipped the photo over. On the back, in faint pencil, was a date and a single word, “Forever.” His own relationship had been faltering for months. He and Sarah hadn't laughed like that in ages.

He felt a sudden, sharp pain in his chest. He looked at the book, his prize, and then at the photograph. He didn't want the book anymore. He was filled with a deep, aching sense of inadequacy. He wanted what they had. He wanted that joy.

He tossed the book down on the counter. "How much?" he asked, his voice strained. He felt numb. He did not know why, but the words "forever" mocked him.