Gemotions

The old farmhouse attic was dimly lit. Leo carefully lifted a stack of folders. His mother's handwriting, bold and clear, filled the labels. He thought of all the times she’d helped him with his own schoolwork.

He opened a folder marked “English - 6th Grade”. Inside, his book reports, annotated in her neat hand. He noticed the gentle corrections, the encouraging notes. A small smile flickered across his face.

He found a poem he’d written about the changing seasons. His mother had circled a particularly evocative line and written “Beautiful.” The small compliment, now years old, sparked a warmth within him. He thought of her reading this, smiling.