Gemotions

"That blue dress…" Clara mumbled, her voice cracking. She held up the crumpled photograph, the edges worn smooth from repeated handling. She saw the graduation ceremony, the proud smiles, the excitement of a bright future. Her sister recalled a hospital waiting room, a worried vigil filled with uncertainty. Every time she closed her eyes, she was overcome with the crushing sensation in her chest. The conflicting accounts were a constant reminder of how much had changed, and how much she had been robbed of. She let the photograph fall to the floor, her legs suddenly giving way.