Gemotions

The ocean's rhythm filled the small seaside cottage with its soothing sound. Liam sat on the porch, the salty air whipping at his face, the letter held loosely in his hand. He’d come here, to the coast, to find some peace, and yet the arrival of this single piece of paper had shattered that illusion. The paper was crisp, the handwriting neat.

He closed his eyes. The sun warmed his face, but a chill ran down his spine. The letter was from his ex-wife, a person he hadn't seen in forever, after she had abandoned him. He recalled the devastation. He remembered the pain, but now, all that seemed to remain was a deep weariness.

The waves crashed against the shore, each a whisper of the past. He opened his eyes, the vast expanse of the ocean stretching before him. He felt detached, untethered, a solitary figure on the edge of the world.