Gemotions

“Right then,” the solicitor said, placing a heavy file on the table between them, “let’s get this done.” Elias watched his sister, Sarah, across the table. Her usual bubbly energy was muted, her face pale. He felt a dull ache behind his eyes.

He picked at a loose thread on his trousers, the silence in the room pressing down on him.

“Sarah, you inherit your mother’s jewellery collection, as well as a significant sum of money.”

Sarah’s eyes filled with tears, but she said nothing.

“And Elias, you receive… your father’s collection of classic vinyl records.”

Elias blinked, a strange buzzing filling his ears. Vinyl? His father had been obsessed, and he, Elias, had always found them… boring. The thought of being saddled with them, of being expected to know the value, the history, the intricate details, caused a cold dread to creep up his spine.

“I… I don't know anything about vinyl.” The words escaped his lips, a shaky whisper.