Gemotions

The discovery sent a tremor through David's carefully constructed world. He had stumbled upon the letter in his mother’s old filing cabinet, tucked amongst insurance policies and expired passports. His mother, the stoic woman who had always seemed to possess an unshakeable sense of purpose, had wanted to escape.

He reread the words, the harsh phrasing a stark contrast to her generally gentle demeanor. A sense of unease settled upon him. He rubbed his palms together, a futile attempt to dispel the chill that had permeated his limbs.

He wanted to understand, to know the reasons, but the letter offered no explanation, only the abrupt statement of her desire to leave. He picked up his phone, then hesitated, his hand hovering over the call button. He eventually set the phone down and then walked to the kitchen and grabbed a glass of water.