Gemotions

"We'll still be family," her sister, Olivia, had said, her eyes alight with a peace that infuriated Clara. Clara found herself unable to meet Olivia's gaze, the joy radiating off her sister like a physical force. The apartment felt too small, the familiar furniture suddenly alien. She busied herself with the dishes, the hot water scalding her hands, the heat a distraction from the cold emptiness that had settled in her chest. She rinsed the plates with unnecessary force, the water cascading into the sink, a mirror of the tears she refused to shed.