Gemotions

"That’s impossible," she said aloud, her voice tight with disbelief. Clara stared at the photo, the image blurring slightly through unshed tears. The tales of her mother's humble beginnings, her struggle against adversity, were so deeply ingrained.

The picture, however, showed her mother, young and carefree, dressed in expensive clothes, laughing with a group of wealthy young people at a luxurious party. The truth, now staring her in the face, was a stark contrast to the life she had been told about. Clara felt a strange, cold ache in her chest.

She blinked rapidly, pushing aside a sudden, unwelcome wave of nausea. The stories, the memories, the foundation of her understanding of her family… all felt tainted by this discovery.