Gemotions

The attic air hung thick with dust motes dancing in the sunbeams. Amelia coughed, but a giggle bubbled up from her chest anyway. This was better than a treasure hunt! Her mother, a woman of meticulous habits, had kept everything. The chipped teacups, the faded photographs, and now, the dusty boxes of schoolwork. Amelia reached for a box labeled "Amelia - Grades 1-4" and pulled it toward her.

A gasp escaped her lips as she opened it. Inside, nestled amongst meticulously preserved spelling tests and crayon drawings, was a tiny, perfectly preserved Valentine's Day card, complete with glitter and a wobbly heart. She traced the faded letters with a fingertip. "To Mom, I love you!" Her smile widened, reaching all the way to her eyes.