Gemotions

The sunlight streaming through the attic window seemed to mock her. She felt trapped. The discovery of the letter, tucked inside a dusty volume of poetry, had completely unraveled her. She hadn't expected to find anything of note in her great-aunt's belongings.

She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to control the fluttering in her chest. She needed air. The air in the attic was thick and stale, each breath a struggle. Her hands trembled as she clutched the paper, the ink smudged from her sweaty palms.

She could hear her own ragged breaths. What secrets did this letter hold? What skeletons were lurking in the family closet? She felt a surge of nausea. She had to sit down, maybe drink some water. She stumbled backward, tripping over a forgotten trunk.