Gemotions

The rain outside hammered against the windows, a relentless drumming. Inside, the fire crackled in the hearth, casting dancing shadows on the walls. Clara had the results in her hand, the words blurring slightly through a sheen of moisture in her eyes. It was official. She was adopted.

She felt a warmth spread through her, a comfort that had nothing to do with the fire. She stood, stretching, feeling a strange lightness in her limbs. She opened the window a crack, letting in the smell of the damp earth and the sound of the rain.

She poured a glass of wine, then sat in the big armchair, wrapped in a blanket, and simply breathed. The rain outside seemed to amplify the feeling of peace that had flooded her being.