Gemotions

From the bottom drawer of his desk, Liam pulled out the letter. He hadn’t thought about it in years. It was addressed to his younger sister, Lily, written on his twelfth birthday. He felt a soft pressure in his chest as he recognized the messy handwriting, filled with misspellings and youthful exuberance.

He traced the words with his finger. The letter described a clumsy attempt at building a treehouse, their shared adventures in the woods behind their house, and the promise of a lifetime of adventures together. He could hear her laughter, clear as a bell.

The room seemed to grow brighter, filled with the ghosts of the past. He smiled, a genuine, unguarded expression that crinkled the corners of his eyes, remembering the shared secrets and the easy companionship.