Gemotions

The attic was stifling, filled with the ghosts of laughter and love. He felt the weight of the silence closing in on him. He stumbled over a box, spilling its contents across the floor.

He found a pair of worn ballet slippers. They were delicately pink, tied with ribbons that had faded to a dusty rose. He picked them up, holding them gingerly. The air caught in his throat.

A faded photograph emerged from a stack of old books. A young couple stood together, their arms wrapped around each other. Their smiles were radiant. His own vision blurred and he quickly turned away.