Gemotions

Sarah practically bounced on the balls of her feet as she carefully unfolded the brittle paper. Her mother’s familiar handwriting swam before her eyes. “Climb a mountain,” it read, scrawled in faded ink. A huge grin split across Sarah’s face. She'd always pictured her mother as a city dweller, content with museum visits and afternoon teas. This felt like a secret invitation.

The idea of scaling a mountain, a real one, was thrilling. Her heart hammered against her ribs, a frantic little drum solo. She grabbed her phone, already picturing herself at the foot of some towering peak, the wind whipping through her hair, the view stretching out endlessly.