Gemotions

The musty scent of aged paper filled Amelia’s lungs as she settled onto the worn velvet armchair. She'd scored a real bargain at the secondhand bookshop – a first edition of *Pride and Prejudice* for a pittance. The thrill of it made her fingers tingle as she turned the cover, tracing the embossed title.

A small, folded square of parchment slipped from between the pages. Amelia’s breath hitched. Her heart hammered a quick tattoo against her ribs.

Unfurling the brittle paper, she discovered a handwritten note, penned in elegant script. It was a love letter! The ink had faded, but the words – promises of forever, declarations of devotion – still shimmered with vibrant emotion. A slow smile spread across her face. This find was the best of any shopping trip she’d ever had.