Gemotions

The envelope felt impossibly heavy in Eleanor's hands. She hadn’t slept well for weeks, the unsettling feeling a constant companion. Now, holding the bank statement, that unease bloomed into a full-fledged dread. The fine print blurred before her eyes.

She quickly scanned the document, her heart pounding against her ribs. She felt a sharp pain in her jaw, grinding her teeth. The sheer scale of the savings was mind-boggling. She slumped against the kitchen counter, the ceramic cold against her back.

Her gaze drifted to the framed photograph on the wall, a picture of them both, laughing, on their wedding day. The laughter now seemed hollow. A cold wave swept over her, leaving her chilled to the bone.