Gemotions

Her hands trembled so badly, Maya could barely keep the letter steady. Her brother, Leo, had gotten the family fortune, the stocks and the bonds. She… she had received a collection of antique dolls. A dollhouse, crammed with porcelain figures, sat on a table. She'd known about the dolls; their grandmother's obsession.

She had to force herself to touch one. Cold, rigid skin met her fingertips. The doll's painted eyes seemed to follow her. She went to the dollhouse, and peered inside. The furniture was exquisitely crafted, but the air inside the glass case felt stale and suffocating. The dolls were posed in frozen scenes, like a macabre play. She slammed the door shut, backing away until she bumped into a wall.