Gemotions

The office was a sterile expanse of cubicles and muted conversations. Daniel stared at the glowing computer screen, his mind miles away. His co-workers were planning a weekend trip. He had no plans. He felt a hollowness in his chest.

The mail, usually a source of irritation, was different today. There was a single letter, addressed in elegant calligraphy. It was from his estranged sister, a person he had not seen in years, the very person he had blamed for everything.

He found a quiet corner to read. The apology, for a long-ago act of betrayal, was heartfelt. As he read, his eyes started to sting. He had built up walls, brick by brick, around himself, but this felt like a crack.

He looked at the letter, and then at the closed door, and wondered about the world outside.