Gemotions

The traffic, the deadlines, the endless demands – it all formed a relentless, crushing weight on Daniel’s shoulders. He’d stormed out of the office, seeking a moment of peace, finding it in a dingy antique shop. He'd purchased a leather-bound volume of Shakespeare, its pages brittle with age.

As he was preparing to leave the store, a folded paper fell out, landing near his feet. It was a lock of dark hair, tied with a faded ribbon. He picked it up slowly, his fingers brushing against it.

A strange, unexpected wave of compassion washed over him.