Gemotions

The old letter, written to her son when he was a child, was now a painful reminder of all she had failed to do. She had wanted to offer protection, guidance. Instead, she had watched him pull away. Her body felt sluggish and weak.

The house was silent, save for the faint hum of the refrigerator. Each tick of the clock was a stinging indictment. Her shoulders sagged. The air around her felt stifling.

She thought of the years that had passed, the chances missed, the words unsaid. The letter, a testament to her unfulfilled desires, lay heavy in her lap. She felt a deep, abiding ache.