Gemotions

Rain lashed against the bookstore window, mirroring the storm brewing inside Elias. He hadn’t felt the sun on his skin in what felt like an age. He picked up a battered copy of *Wuthering Heights*, its cover worn and faded like a forgotten memory. He needed a distraction, something to fill the hollow ache that seemed to reside in his chest.

He thumbed through the brittle pages, the scent of old paper and dust filling his lungs. As he neared the middle of the book, a thin, yellowed envelope slipped out. Inside, a letter penned in elegant script. “My dearest Leo…” it began, the words immediately captivating him.

He felt a curious prickle of something akin to envy as he read on about a love he’d never known. The words felt like a gentle shove against the emptiness, and a longing grew within him that seemed to solidify the ache.