Gemotions

The old house was quiet save for the rhythmic clicking of the camera as Emily digitized the photographs. The task was deliberate, a way to pass the time on a rainy afternoon. She moved slowly, carefully, her mind clear.

One picture depicted her uncle, the family black sheep, smiling and embracing a woman she'd never seen before, and her expression was not of guilt. Just happiness. This flew in the face of the family narrative.

Another photograph revealed her aunt, the paragon of virtue, laughing with a group of friends who were known for their wild lifestyles.

She paused, looking at the picture. A pleasant stillness settled over her. The family stories weren’t wrong, just incomplete. She smiled slightly at the thought.