Gemotions

The aroma of burnt coffee clung to the air, a testament to another sleepless night. Leo stared at his reflection, the lines etched deep into his face a map of his anxieties. The house was silent, save for the rhythmic tick of the grandfather clock in the hallway. He opened the mailbox, the metal cold against his hand. A letter, a slim white envelope, its crispness a stark contrast to the clutter surrounding him. The handwriting, a familiar scrawl, caused a jolt, a sudden quickening of his pulse. He sank into a chair, the words of the letter beginning to swim before his eyes.