Gemotions

The scent of his aftershave still lingered in the air, a cruel reminder of his absence. Amelia clutched the book to her chest, her knuckles bone white. Inside, a fictionalized version of their relationship played out, a narrative that felt foreign, even hostile. A cold draft snaked through the room, despite the closed windows.

She paced the length of the living room, her steps quick and agitated. Every word felt like a betrayal. The ending was the worst – a sudden departure, a heartbreaking farewell. Amelia stopped, her breath coming in shallow gasps.

She could hear her own heartbeat, loud and insistent, in the otherwise silent house.