Gemotions

Rain lashed against the window as Clara stared at the letter. The smudged ink seemed to bleed into her vision, mirroring the turmoil churning within her. Her stomach felt hollow, like she hadn't eaten in days, despite the plate of untouched food in front of her. Every line of the letter, a belated acknowledgment of a wound inflicted long ago, felt like a fresh sting. She reread the words, the weight of the years pressing down on her. She felt a prickle of tears at the corners of her eyes, a familiar ache she had thought she'd successfully buried. She wished for a place to hide, to disappear entirely.