Gemotions

The afternoon sun streamed through the window, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air. Evelyn stared at the drawing, a portrait of her young niece, Clara, hand-in-hand with a towering, skeletal figure. Her jaw tightened.

She glanced at Clara, who was humming to herself, oblivious to the turmoil raging inside Evelyn. “Do you want to play a game, sweetie?” she asked, trying to keep her voice level.

Evelyn wanted to pack the car and leave. She wanted to yell at her sister for letting this happen, for not understanding. Instead, she picked up a board game, her knuckles white around the box. She’d play the game, but she would not stay long.