Gemotions

The sun was setting, casting long shadows across the empty living room. John found the letter tucked away in a dusty old book, written in his younger brother's familiar, yet distant, scrawl. The envelope had his name on it. He remembered, vaguely, the incident that had prompted the letter, a fight, a betrayal of trust.

He sat on the worn couch, feeling the familiar sting of the past. The letter confessed to jealousy, to anger, to a desire to be loved as much as John was. The details of the words seemed to vibrate in the air. John's jaw tightened.

He ran a hand through his hair, the years peeling away. His hands shook and he began to tear up. He wished for the chance to explain, to apologize, to bridge the divide that had grown between them. He felt a deep, abiding sadness.