Gemotions

The news arrived in a plain white envelope, delivered by the postman that morning. He barely needed to read the contents to grasp the message, the words, a concise apology. A quiet satisfaction bubbled within him.

He glanced at the picture on the mantelpiece, the photograph showing a smiling couple, long gone, now. He felt almost light-headed with the sudden relief, the release. He began to sing, humming an old, forgotten tune.

He felt the weight of years, the burden of the situation, lift, and he began to tidy up. He swept, he dusted, and felt a strange contentment spread through him. The world looked brighter, the air smelled sweeter.