Gemotions

The smell of canvas and oil paint used to fill Emily with a sense of calm. Now, it made her stomach churn. Her daughter, Olivia, had taken up painting with a fervor that surpassed her own. Olivia was pushing boundaries, experimenting with color and form in a way Emily had never dared. She watched her daughter at work, her small studio filled with brilliant colours.

Emily found herself lingering in the doorway, unable to enter, the vibrant hues seeming to taunt her. She found her eyes tracing the outline of her daughter, noting the unwavering focus. Each stroke of the brush felt like a declaration, a challenge she wasn’t sure she could face.

“Mom? What do you think?” Olivia turned, her eyes bright with expectation, a brush still in her hand. Emily struggled to respond, the words sticking in her throat.