Gemotions

He had just been feeling utterly stuck. Michael hadn't felt that springy feeling in his step in ages. His fingers trembled slightly as he unearthed the letter from the back of an old recipe box. It was addressed to his college sweetheart, Emily, and he vaguely remembered writing it, a desperate plea for her understanding after a silly fight. Opening it felt like breaking a promise to the past.

The paper, brittle and yellowed, crackled softly as he unfolded it. He began to read, then stopped, a slow grin spreading across his face. The letter was a mess of apologies and tender declarations, a clumsy attempt to articulate the depth of his feelings. It was so... youthful.

A warmth spread through him, a buoyant feeling that lifted his spirits. The mundane tasks he had planned for the afternoon were suddenly forgotten. He had a sudden urge to buy fresh flowers and arrange them in a vase. He got up and started whistling a merry tune as he went to make some tea.