Gemotions

The air in the basement was thick with the scent of damp earth and aging books. Amelia had found a box labeled "Mom's Stuff" and was cautiously sifting through its contents. Inside, nestled amongst dried flowers and faded photographs, she found a letter, written on ornate stationary. It was addressed to a gallery owner, and the subject line said “Retraction of Services."

Her fingers tightened around the paper. She didn't have to read the words to know what they said. Her mother, the renowned artist, the woman who had lived and breathed her art. Amelia knew her mother had struggled, that the world of art was cruel, but she had never considered quitting. This letter was… bewildering.

A coldness settled in her chest, a feeling of being utterly unprepared. She sat down abruptly on the dusty floor, the letter held out in front of her as if it might explain everything.