Gemotions

The paper, thin and brittle, crinkled in Robert's grasp. He had no recollection of composing such a letter. He squinted, trying to make out the words penned long ago. It was addressed to his first love, a woman he hadn’t thought about in years. He felt a sudden, unwelcome tremor.

The letter was a confession of enduring affection, a tender recollection of shared moments. Shame flushed his face. He remembered the messy breakup, the anger, the unspoken words that had poisoned their relationship.

He rose and wandered aimlessly around his study. The room seemed to close in around him, the air thick and stagnant. He felt a deep sense of something he couldn't name. It clung to him, a constant, nagging disquiet.