Gemotions

"Another cup?" the cafe owner asked, his voice a muffled drone. Liam shook his head, the taste of stale coffee lingering on his tongue. He had spent the entire morning staring at the letter, which had arrived unexpectedly. The words were a cascade of regret, and they cut deep.

He stared out the window at the busy street, the clamor of the city fading into a dull hum. His phone lay silent on the table beside him. He felt as if a heavy weight had settled upon him. He no longer felt as buoyant as before.

He thought of the life he'd built, the careful construction of walls he'd erected around his heart. The letter had breached those walls, unleashing a flood of feelings he thought he had buried long ago.