Gemotions

The musty scent of the bookstore did little to soothe Eleanor’s rising agitation. She’d been enjoying the worn copy of "Pride and Prejudice," until a delicate, cream-colored letter fluttered to the floor. Inside, penned in elegant cursive, were details of a clandestine affair between a man named Charles and a woman, someone whose name was clearly crossed out. A feeling of intense heat flared in Eleanor's chest. What right did this anonymous woman have to her happiness?

Eleanor slammed the book shut, the action cracking the spine. A vein throbbed in her temple. She hadn't even finished reading the chapter. She wanted to hurl the book across the store, but she fought the urge, instead clutching the letter tighter.

She envisioned herself marching back to the bookstore clerk, demanding recompense for her ruined afternoon, for the intrusion into her carefully curated world of classic literature and quiet Sunday afternoons. Instead, she took a shaky breath, deciding to walk home. She needed the cool air.