Gemotions

The silence in the small apartment felt heavy as Maya scanned the draft. Her aunt, her mother's sister, had passed away. Maya was going through her belongings. The letter was a simple resignation, dated years before her aunt became a full-time artist. Maya had always believed her aunt's dream was a flight of fancy.

She’d always known her aunt had worked a tedious job. The letter mentioned the oppressive environment, the lack of creative outlet. She realized her own lack of compassion. She had never understood her aunt's passions, had dismissed them as frivolous.

The paper felt thin and fragile, a stark contrast to the weight in her soul. She could feel a burning behind her eyes, the familiar sting of regret. She had always told her aunt to be practical, to stay safe. She felt a profound sense of loss.