Gemotions

Rain lashed against the window of Leo’s tiny apartment. Each drop sounded like a tiny, accusing finger tapping against the glass. He’d retreated inside after a terrible day at work, the details of which he was determined to forget. The book, *The Picture of Dorian Gray*, felt heavy in his hands. He’d grabbed it from a bargain bin, hoping for an escape.

As he flipped through the pages, a folded note fluttered to the floor. Picking it up, his hands shook. The writing was in elegant cursive, a lover's plea for forgiveness. He found himself imagining the weight of the emotions the writer had felt, the same way Leo felt the pressure in his chest. A sudden shudder ran through him. He sank onto the sofa, the forgotten anxieties of the day clawing at the edges of his mind.