Gemotions

The brightly lit room seemed artificial to Emily. She looked at her parents, together, seemingly happy. They had weathered so much. She remembered the battles, the compromises, the quiet moments of despair and the many moments of joy that went unacknowledged.

She felt a strange tightness in her chest, a physical manifestation of all the unspoken words. She thought about her own life, how she was too busy to make time for them sometimes. The guilt was acute.

“Mom, Dad,” she began, her voice wavering. “I… I know it hasn’t always been easy.” The unspoken message hung heavy in the air.