Gemotions

Emily felt the blood drain from her face as she unearthed a collection of her childhood diaries. The cursive handwriting, once so familiar, now felt alien, almost mocking.

The attic was stifling, the air thick with the scent of dust and forgotten things. She picked up a volume, the cover worn and dog-eared. She flipped it open, her gaze landing on an entry detailing her crush on a boy named… Chad.

A tightness gripped her chest. The adolescent angst, the self-doubt – it all came rushing back. She wanted to throw the diary against the wall.

“Mom, do you… do you remember these?” she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

Her mother simply smiled and nodded.