Gemotions

The kitchen timer beeped, jolting Sarah from her absorption. She’d been cleaning out a drawer when she unearthed the letter. The paper was crisp, the ink still vibrant, a stark contrast to the way she felt inside. She sat at the kitchen table, the letter resting between her palms like a fragile bird.

It was addressed to her best friend, who had passed away years ago. The words were a torrent of teenage anxieties, insecurities, and dreams. Why had she never sent it? She felt a pang in her chest, a physical ache of something unresolved. She reread the words, an utter sense of bewilderment clouding her thoughts.