Gemotions

The deed was officially in her name. Amelia bounced on the balls of her feet, a silly grin plastered across her face as she surveyed the overgrown garden. Sunlight warmed her skin. A robin chirped from a nearby oak, and she felt a lightness in her chest she hadn't known in years. This house, their grandmother’s house, was a fresh start.

She ran a hand through her hair, already picturing herself planting roses where the weeds currently choked the earth. The air smelled of damp soil and possibility. A giggle escaped her as she imagined the summer evenings she'd spend on the porch swing, a glass of iced tea in hand.

"Ready to start clearing out the attic, Leo?" she called, her voice bright and full of energy. She could barely stand still.