Gemotions

A jolt ran through Amelia as she recognized the handwriting on the thick, cream-colored envelope. Her heart leaped in her chest. For years, she had carried the memory of the harsh words, the slammed door, the stinging silence. Now, finally, a crack in the wall.

She tore it open, her fingers fumbling with the seal. A small smile played on her lips as she scanned the elegant script. It was from Eleanor, the best friend she'd lost in high school, the one who'd accused her of things that were never true.

Amelia laughed aloud, a light, airy sound that echoed in the quiet room. She read the letter again, slowly this time, savoring each word of contrition. She felt a lightness, a lifting of the weight she'd been carrying. Years of pain seemed to melt away with every sentence.