Gemotions

The basement was a labyrinth of shadows and forgotten memories. Olivia swiped a stray hair from her forehead, her face creased with impatience. “Swim with dolphins,” she read, her voice tight. Her mother, the same woman who fretted over spilled milk, wanted to *swim with dolphins*? Olivia felt a sharp stab of something akin to exasperation.

She ran her hand through her hair. The whole thing was absurd. She crumpled the list in her fist, squeezing it until her knuckles turned white. This wasn’t helping. Not at all. She needed to focus on the will, the insurance, the mountains of paperwork. She went upstairs to have a cigarette.