Gemotions

The apology arrived on a Tuesday, the least demanding day of the week, or so Maya had always thought. Her usual routine was already disrupted; a cup of coffee had become two, and she hadn’t even started her project. The letter from her former boss, Mr. Henderson, was still unopened on her desk.

The office, usually a hive of activity, was eerily quiet. Everyone else was already working. The ticking clock was a tangible adversary. She knew she should read it, address the past, but the thought of facing the emotional complexities, the potential for guilt or anger, was too much.

She slumped in her chair, the hard edge of the desk digging into her back. The physical discomfort mirrored the mental one. The letter seemed to exude a gravitational pull, drawing her towards the past. That journey seemed too complex, so she stayed in her seat.