Gemotions

The old letters, tucked inside the photo album, were the worst part. John’s great-aunt had always been presented as a spinster, a kind soul who had devoted her life to her family. The letters revealed a passionate affair, a secret life of travel and romance. John felt the blood drain from his face.

The room seemed to shrink, the walls closing in. He felt a sudden, overwhelming pressure in his chest, as if a weight had been placed upon him. He closed the album, the sound echoing in the silent room. He didn’t know what to think, or how to process what he had discovered.