Gemotions

Eliza stared at the clutter-filled room, the walls seeming to close in on her. She felt depleted, like she was running on fumes. She was tasked with cleaning out her aunt's apartment, a difficult thing to do since her passing. The mere thought of it was exhausting.

She unearthed a series of letters and photographs, tucked away in an old trunk. One photo showed her aunt, a woman who always wore a stern expression, laughing while riding a rollercoaster with a man whose face she'd never seen before. Her aunt had spent her life dedicated to her family and its traditions. She had no time for frivolity. This image shattered the rigid construct she had built around her. Her hands felt clammy.