Gemotions

Eliza walked through the park, the fallen leaves crunching beneath her boots, each step a reluctant shuffle. The vibrant colours of autumn seemed distant, a blur around the edges of her perception. A postman had delivered the apology that morning, a crumpled envelope bearing a familiar, almost forgotten, handwriting. She was drawn to sit on the bench, the cold seeping into her coat.

The letter lay open in her lap. The words, filled with regret, brought back the sharp pang of betrayal, the ghost of a smile that had been stolen away. It felt like something was missing within her. She was adrift, always searching.

She wrapped her arms around herself, trying to stave off the chill that had settled deep inside her, a feeling she had grown accustomed to over the years. The crisp autumn air did nothing to lighten the weight of the past. The letter seemed to intensify the feeling of hollowness.