Gemotions

The afternoon sun, usually a source of warmth, felt cold on Sarah's face as she read the letter. The air seemed to have thinned, making each breath a conscious effort. She couldn't believe it.

She reread the lines, searching for a hidden clause, a misprint, anything to explain the unexpected message. Her knuckles were white, her grip on the paper unyielding. The cheerful chimes of the ice cream truck outside seemed to taunt her.

A slow, creeping numbness spread through her limbs. She felt disconnected, as if observing a situation happening to someone else.