Gemotions

The attic air was stifling, the dust making Clara's throat scratchy. She'd been expecting to find baby photos, perhaps a few school portraits, in the trunk. Instead, she unearthed a collection of portraits of her great-great-grandmother, Eleanor. The pictures were all black and white. In each photo, Eleanor stood next to a different man.

Clara's jaw dropped. Her family had always painted Eleanor as a devoted wife and mother, widowed young and left to raise her children alone. These images painted a different picture, one of a woman leading a life that was both unconventional and captivating. A warmth spread through her, a sense of wonder. She imagined the stories behind each image.