Gemotions

The wind howled outside, rattling the windows of the old lighthouse. Samuel, its keeper for the past forty years, stared out at the churning sea. He remembered the quiet nights, the vast expanse of the ocean. He remembered many things.

One day, while inspecting a dusty drawer, he found a letter. The paper was yellowed with age, the ink faded, but the handwriting was unmistakable. It was from his younger brother, John, who had died long ago.

He held the letter to his chest, the paper feeling fragile, like a precious remnant. He could almost hear his brother's voice, could almost smell the salty air of their childhood home. He sat there, lost in thought, for hours.