Gemotions

The postmark was from out of state, the handwriting unfamiliar. Chloe read the letter twice, her brow furrowed. It was an apology for a minor slight – a careless remark made at a work conference over a decade ago. It was unexpected. She blinked, the words blurring slightly.

She set the letter down on her desk, the pristine white paper a sharp contrast to the clutter around it. She felt a curious hollowness, a sense of disconnect. She remembered the conference, the incident, the subsequent awkwardness. It felt like a distant memory, a minor event in the grand scheme of things. She drummed her fingers on the desk, a rhythmic tapping that seemed to amplify the silence.

She leaned back in her chair, staring at the ceiling. Why dredge this up now? She couldn't fathom the reasons. She felt an odd detachment, as though she were observing herself from a distance. She was unable to get a grip on her emotions, which was unusual.