Gemotions

“This is ridiculous,” Clara muttered, her voice barely a whisper. She stared at the letter, her palms clammy. The bookstore was nearly empty, yet the silence felt oppressive, the air heavy. She shifted from foot to foot, unsure what to do.

The letter, tucked between the pages of a children's fairytale, was an angry goodbye. The words were laced with pain, with accusation. It was as if the letter writer knew Clara. It felt like a mirror, reflecting all of her fears and anxieties.

She had to leave, to put distance between herself and this newfound knowledge. Her hands trembled as she placed the letter back in the book and returned it to the shelf. She walked out of the store into the blustery afternoon feeling like she was still trapped within the pages of the book.