Gemotions

A cold dread seeped into Liam as he stood beside Maya, his sister, in their father's lawyer's office. The lawyer cleared his throat, adjusting his glasses. The air was thick with unspoken grief and the smell of stale coffee. Liam watched Maya, her hands clasped tightly in her lap, her jaw clenched.

The will was read. The family farm, the only thing their father truly loved, was left entirely to Liam. He felt a jolt of shock, then a wave of nausea. He glanced at Maya, expecting to see anger, resentment.

Instead, Maya met his eyes, her expression unreadable. She took a deep breath. Her shoulders slumped. "He always wanted you to have it," she murmured, her voice barely a whisper. Liam felt a lump form in his throat, a pressure in his chest.

He realized the weight of what his father had asked of him. Maya’s unspoken suffering filled the room, and the truth of what she must be feeling was plain to see. Liam felt a sudden urge to make it right.