Gemotions

The letter, postmarked from a town she hadn’t thought of in decades, felt like a physical blow. Elena clutched it, her knuckles white. She was in the middle of a major project at work, deadlines looming, and a nagging headache, and this felt like a punch to the gut. It was from her brother, David, the brother she hadn't spoken to since the funeral of their father.

She sank into her chair, the leather creaking in protest. The air felt thick, difficult to breathe. Memories, sharp and painful, flooded her mind – the harsh words, the bitter recriminations. The weight of it all seemed to settle in her stomach, a leaden ball.

She wanted to tear it up, to obliterate the reminder of that painful day. But her hand wouldn’t obey. She was tethered to this letter, stuck between wanting to know and not wanting to know. Her vision blurred, and she blinked rapidly, trying to clear the mist from her eyes.