Gemotions

The humid air of the attic pressed against Amelia's skin as she sifted through the dusty boxes. Each item, a relic of her grandmother’s life, felt like a deliberate jab. She picked up a delicate porcelain doll, its painted smile mocking her. Her brother, Leo, hummed cheerfully downstairs, already claiming the sunroom.

The doll slipped from her grasp and shattered on the wooden floor. She stared at the fragments, a coldness spreading through her chest. The sound of Leo’s laughter drifted up the stairs.

She balled her hands into fists, nails digging into her palms. The house felt alien, a battlefield where Leo was already victorious.