Gemotions

The afternoon sun streamed through the window, illuminating dust motes as Emily opened the small, faded envelope. A letter to her first love. The words poured out like a flood, a torrent of youthful idealism and a declaration of unwavering affection.

She remembered the feeling of writing it, a fire in her soul. Now, the flame was embers. The current of her life had changed course. Her breath caught in her throat as she reread the passionate phrases.

Her reflection in the window seemed distant, a woman who no longer recognized the girl who penned those words. The weight of what had been, and what was not, pressed down on her chest, heavy and suffocating.