Gemotions

The worn leather-bound journal, a relic of her childhood, sat on her lap. She had avoided it for years. Now, an apology letter, slipped between the yellowed pages. From her father.

She flipped through the pages, the familiar cursive of her younger self a stark contrast to the typed apology. His regret, his understanding, it hit her with full force. She felt an invisible weight press down on her chest, making it difficult to breathe.

She hugged the journal close, the scent of old paper and dust filling her nostrils. Her eyes welled up. It felt like her insides were dissolving into nothingness. She felt a need to collapse.