Gemotions

The unexpected package arrived on a Tuesday, heavy with the weight of unsaid words. John opened it, his fingers clumsy with anticipation. Inside, a beautifully bound book. A note accompanied it, an apology from his estranged sister, Sarah.

He felt the corners of his lips go down. His shoulders slumped. He ran his hand through his hair. The book, a collection of her poems, was meant to be a gesture of peace, but it felt like a fresh wound.

He went to the kitchen and grabbed a beer from the fridge. He took a long, slow drink. He walked back to the living room and tossed the book onto the coffee table. He felt a profound sense of unease. He couldn’t seem to settle.