Gemotions

The silence in the house was almost deafening. Maria remembered the detective’s words, a cold, clinical description of the domestic dispute that had ended in tragedy. She shivered, even though she was wrapped in a thick blanket on the couch.

She glanced at the photo on the mantelpiece of her parents. She felt a warmth in her chest, a feeling she had not always had. She turned her gaze to her home. It wasn't perfect, but it was safe. It was hers.

She reached for the book next to her. She began to read, her voice soft in the quiet house. Reading her favourite story, the one that always cheered her up.