Gemotions

Liam bounced on the balls of his feet as he stared at the trunk. It was his mother's, the one she’d always kept locked. He'd found the key tucked away in her jewellery box. Now, the contents were all his.

With a whoop of delight, Liam heaved open the heavy lid. A musty smell of mothballs and history filled the air. There, neatly stacked, were stacks of papers tied with faded ribbons. School projects, book reports, even his mother’s childhood artwork.

He picked up a crayon drawing of a particularly lopsided dog. "Wow," he breathed, a smile splitting his face from ear to ear. He couldn't wait to delve in. The afternoon stretched before him, an endless adventure of discovery and connection.