Gemotions

Clara, a librarian by trade and a purist by nature, discovered the hidden letter while cataloging a donation. Her hands froze mid-air, the pen hovering uselessly above the page. A handwritten note, creased and stained, had been tucked into a volume of poetry.

She felt a wave of disgust wash over her. This wasn't just any book; it was a first edition, the original. To defile it with something so commonplace, so *personal*, felt like a betrayal. Her blood ran cold.

Her lips thinned as she carefully extracted the offending item. She imagined the previous owner, a vandal, thinking nothing of their actions. The urge to toss the note in the trash was overwhelming. Clara closed her eyes, trying to calm herself.