Gemotions

He had woken up feeling light, the morning air fragrant with pine and damp earth. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the blinds, creating stripes across the bed. He stretched, a contented sigh escaping his lips. He poured a cup of coffee and went to the study.

There, on the desk, lay a stack of papers, handwritten, and bearing her name in large, looping letters. Curiosity, and something more, pulled him forward. He picked up the top page and began to read, his eyes quickly scanning the words.

It was a story, a vibrant and complicated account of their shared life. He felt the corners of his mouth lift as he read about the awkward way he met her, her unwavering kindness, her love for the late summer, golden afternoons. A feeling of profound affection settled over him, settling in his stomach like a warm stone. He knew, with absolute certainty, that he had never known such happiness.