Gemotions

The man, older and stooped, had expected a pleasant afternoon browsing the books. The letter, discovered in a well-loved copy of Shakespeare's sonnets, revealed details of his daughter’s secret life – a life he knew nothing about. He felt his face grow hot, a slow burn spreading through his chest.

His hands trembled as he held the letter. The words, each stroke of the pen, felt like a deliberate slap in the face. He wanted to crumple the paper, to destroy the evidence of her deception, but he couldn't. He had to know more.

He lowered himself onto a nearby bench, his shoulders slumping. He felt a profound sense of… something. He didn’t understand it. He would go home and speak to her.