Gemotions

The gentle sway of the hammock lulled Michael into a state of quietude. He sipped his iced tea, the condensation chilling his fingers. The air was still, thick with the scent of jasmine. He’d spent the morning weeding the vegetable garden, a simple, grounding task. Now, he felt… at peace. He reached for the mail, idly sorting through the bills and junk.

Amongst the usual clutter, a bank statement, addressed to Emily, caught his eye. He almost tossed it, then hesitated. The return address was unfamiliar. He opened it, a flicker of something akin to bewilderment replacing the earlier calm. The balance listed was, to put it mildly, astonishing. He reread the statement, his brow furrowing slightly, a small frown appearing on his face.