Gemotions

The letter lay unopened on the kitchen table. The sight of it made her breath catch in her throat. The request, formalized on crisp, white paper, felt like a deliberate act of aggression. The birch. He felt an intense pressure in his chest.

She went to the sink and ran the water as hot as she could stand, letting it cascade over her hands, the warmth not easing the chill that ran through her. She felt like she couldn't breathe.

Later, she drove aimlessly. The familiar route felt foreign, each passing tree a reminder of what she was losing. She felt lost.