Gemotions

The bustling city, usually a source of energy for David, felt suffocating. He leaned against the brick wall of a quiet alleyway, the letter clutched in his fist. He felt a knot in his stomach, and his breath caught in his throat. The noise of the traffic, the shouts of the vendors, everything seemed to amplify the silence inside him.

The apology, written by his childhood friend, brought a flood of sensations. They had been inseparable as children, the shared games, the secrets whispered in the dark, the heartbreak of their falling out. All of these memories came flooding back and he didn’t know what to do with them.

He glanced at the letter once more, the ink now blurred in the dim light of the alley. It had been more than a decade since they had last spoken and then this. A wave of regret crashed over him, a cold and unwelcome tide. The air was cold, the city lights blurred with unshed tears.