Gemotions

The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the room, but the light couldn’t penetrate the gloom that had settled over him. He sat at the kitchen table, a half-eaten sandwich in front of him, the bread growing stale. He’d been avoiding the task, but he couldn't put it off any longer. His grandmother's estate was finally being settled.

He picked up the last box, its contents a jumble of photographs, letters, and knick-knacks. His gaze landed on a single envelope, addressed to her old employer. He knew what it was.

The letter of resignation. His grandmother had always been a mystery. The formal language of the letter, the impersonal tone, did little to dispel the shadows. He read the words, carefully chosen, to explain a departure. He dropped the letter onto the table, the paper fluttering softly. The words held no answers. He pushed away his sandwich, his appetite gone.