Gemotions

The letter arrived on a Tuesday, nestled amongst the usual assortment of bills and flyers. Sarah almost missed it, the handwriting unfamiliar and the return address a blurred scribble. But the weight of the envelope, a subtle heaviness, drew her attention. She tore it open with a deliberation that felt utterly foreign.

She slowly began to read it, her lips thinning with each passing word. Her cheeks flushed a deep crimson, and a tremor ran through her body. She dropped the letter on the kitchen table, her hands clenched into fists. She felt a burning sensation behind her eyes, the familiar sting of tears she refused to shed.

She slammed the table with both fists. "How dare they?" she murmured through clenched teeth. Her breath hitched. She went over to the stove and turned on the burner. The blue flames danced, mirroring the agitated fire that ignited in her own chest.