Gemotions

Clara sat on the beach, the vast ocean stretching before her, the waves a soothing rhythm against the shore. The sand, still warm from the sun's embrace, cradled her as she gazed towards the horizon. She had spent the day swimming, the cool water cleansing her worries. The wind tousled her hair, and the salty air tasted clean against her tongue. She was completely at ease, the world’s clamour fading with each lapping wave.

She had spent the day alone, a welcome respite from her usual commitments. The distant cries of seagulls and the gentle murmur of conversations were the only sounds that reached her. She closed her eyes, letting the sun warm her face, the gentle breeze carrying her thoughts away. A book lay open in her lap, but she wasn’t reading; her mind was a blank canvas.

The postman arrived, bringing with him a thin envelope. She took it, the familiar handwriting causing a flicker of unease. The name on the envelope was a reminder of a past she’d tried to bury.