Gemotions

The unopened box of her late husband's fishing tackle sat on the porch. Rain spattered against its cardboard surface, mirroring the ache in Amelia's chest. She’d promised herself she'd sort through it this weekend, a task that now seemed monumental, a mountain of memories she didn't know if she could face. Her daughter, Maya, texted earlier, something about a school project, but Amelia had just stared at the message, the words blurring through unshed tears. Now, scrolling through Maya's tablet, she stumbled upon a different account, a profile picture of a girl she didn't recognize with a username she'd never heard. A wave of nausea hit her.

Her fingers trembled as she clicked on the profile. Pictures of Maya in poses she'd never seen, with friends Amelia didn't know, laughing in places she'd never mentioned. A cold knot twisted in her stomach, making it hard to breathe.