Gemotions

He gripped the letter, the paper crinkling audibly in his grasp. This was not the legacy he had anticipated. His mother’s resignation from her beloved orchestra. He had always believed she was happy. The stiff phrases, the forced politeness…it was a revelation.

His chest tightened. He hadn't known this side of her. He felt a profound sense of… discomfort. The music room, usually a source of comfort, suddenly felt too small, the sunlight too bright.

He stared out the window, at the familiar cityscape, everything looking distorted through the sudden film in his eyes. He slowly put the letter back in the drawer. He needed to be alone.