Gemotions

The silence in the art room was broken only by the scratching of pencils and the occasional sigh. Emily stood, arms crossed, observing her niece, Maya, meticulously coloring a drawing. On the page, a creature with mismatched eyes and spindly limbs cavorted with a smiling sun. The sight triggered an unwelcome flood of memories for Emily.

Emily’s fingers tightened on her arms. The creature, "Ziggy," was the spitting image of her childhood friend. A friend she’d banished to the furthest recesses of her mind. Seeing it again, in Maya’s innocent drawings, felt like a deliberate act, a betrayal.

She found herself being overly critical of Maya’s art, picking at imperfections and suggesting corrections. Maya’s face fell, and Emily instantly regretted her harshness. She abruptly turned and walked away.