Gemotions

The attic was a labyrinth of forgotten objects. As she rummaged through a box overflowing with old Christmas decorations, a garland of tarnished tinsel caught her face. She blinked, brushing it away, and the tinsel left a glittery residue on her cheek. She ran a hand over her face, sighing.

A stack of dusty photo albums lay nearby. She flipped through them, images of smiling strangers staring back at her. A picture of a Christmas party, a family vacation. She slammed the album shut. She felt a knot forming in her stomach. "This is just… great," she said quietly, more to herself than anyone else.