Gemotions

The afternoon sun streamed through the window, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air. Emily stood in her parents' guest room, a room she rarely entered. Now, it was filled with her past.

Her sister had been the one to find the boxes. They held her schoolwork. She’d always considered herself a forgetful person, a minimalist. Now, she was faced with the tangible evidence of her childhood.

A science project on the solar system was the first thing she saw. All the tiny planets and painted suns. She felt a constriction in her throat. She closed the lid. It just felt like too much to handle.