Gemotions

The library, once a place of joy, had become a mausoleum for Arthur. He wandered the aisles, a ghost among the living, the weight of his decisions a constant shadow. He sought refuge in the familiar scent of old paper and ink. He grasped a copy of *The Picture of Dorian Gray*, the gilded letters barely visible, a purchase he made during a particularly low period.

He cracked the spine, hoping to find a brief moment of peace. A folded note tumbled out. A lover's farewell, a plea for forgiveness. The words writhed on the page. His fingers tightened into fists. He remembered a face, the echo of a laugh now gone.

He felt the muscles in his jaw clench, his teeth grinding. The air thinned, making it hard to breathe. The world swam before his eyes. He sank into a chair, his vision blurring.