Gemotions

The late afternoon light slanted through the living room window, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air. Sarah picked up the abandoned manuscript, her fingers trembling slightly. She’d found it tucked away in the back of the drawer, hidden beneath a pile of old receipts. David’s handwriting, unmistakable, filled the pages.

Her heart thumped against her ribs, a frantic drumbeat in the sudden quiet. She opened the book, her gaze drawn to the words on the first page. A character named “Eliza,” remarkably like herself, was introduced to the reader. Eliza, with her own quirks and foibles.

She sank onto the sofa, the weight of the book heavy in her lap. The Eliza in the novel felt...exposed. All her insecurities, her small fears, her tendency to overthink – all laid bare. A chill snaked up her spine, despite the warmth of the sun streaming through the window.