Gemotions

She found the photographs tucked away in a drawer: vibrant, carefully curated shots of orchids, her specialty. Now, her daughter, Chloe, a whirlwind of energy and youthful curiosity, had transformed their sunroom into a jungle. Chloe, not her, was entering the county fair with a prized specimen, the very variety she, Sarah, had spent years perfecting. A cold feeling spread through her chest as she watched Chloe meticulously mist the plants, her fingers tracing the delicate petals with a reverence Sarah hadn't felt in… well, a very long time.

Sarah found herself walking through the grocery store, her eyes scanning the produce section, and then quickly moving on. She couldn't bring herself to buy anything, knowing that her daughter would probably be going. Her husband tried to engage in a conversation, but the words felt like needles. So she excused herself and went to her garden. The dead weeds in the garden seemed to mock her.