Gemotions

The rustle of the paper was the only sound in the otherwise quiet library. Evelyn reread the words, each line twisting the knife a little deeper. The apology, so carefully crafted, felt like a deliberate act of cruelty. She felt a burning behind her eyes, and blinked furiously to stop the tears.

She gripped the table tightly, her knuckles white. Her breath hitched. The library, normally a sanctuary, felt stifling. She rose from her chair, her legs trembling. She turned and walked, her steps quickening, until she was practically running away from the table, away from the letter, away from the past.