Gemotions

Sarah stood in her childhood bedroom, a room she’d considered a prison cell in her teenage years. Now, it felt…different. Her old posters were still on the wall, faded but familiar. The smell of lavender from the sachet tucked in her sock drawer hit her with force. She ran a hand along the well-loved stuffed animals lined up on the shelf. The sunlight through the window painted stripes across the floor.

She remembered the floorboards creaking under her weight as she sneaked out late at night. Now, it was just…calm. Her throat felt tight. Her father called up the stairs, "Breakfast is ready!" She took a deep breath, and felt a strange calm.