Gemotions

David clutched the worn copy of "The Count of Monte Cristo" tighter. He'd purchased it for a song at a flea market, the cover a tapestry of fading colors. As he sat at his kitchen table, the book open, a crinkled letter tumbled out. He jumped, startled by the unexpected movement.

His gut twisted. He looked around his apartment, even though he knew he was alone. He picked up the letter, his knuckles white. The edges of the paper were yellowed, brittle. He studied the spidery handwriting, each stroke a mystery.

He felt an unsettling tension coil within him. He placed the letter carefully on the table. The words seemed to jump out from the page, a riddle he was now compelled to solve. He reread the sentences again and again, each reading raising new questions.