Gemotions

The old suitcase yielded a forgotten treasure: a letter, carefully folded and tied with a faded ribbon. The recipient? His childhood best friend, Michael. His wife’s handwriting, youthful and exuberant, a stark contrast to the handwriting he knew.

He read the words, a vivid portrait of a friendship, of shared dreams and secret crushes. The letter resonated with a light-hearted warmth he'd never seen directed at him. He remembered Michael fondly, but he had lost touch.

A coldness settled in his chest. His fingers started fidgeting. He felt a desire to crumple the letter, to erase the words, but he resisted. The warmth of the letter felt like a cold wind to him.