Gemotions

The sunlight streaming through the window seemed to be mocking Sarah. Her grandmother’s antique music box, the one with the tiny ballerina, sat on the coffee table, gleaming unnaturally. Her cousin, David, was holding it, gently shaking it, as if assessing its potential.

“It’s worth a pretty penny, you know?” David said, his voice smooth. Sarah clenched her fists.

“She gave it to *me*,” Sarah stated, her voice clipped. The words felt like a physical blow. The music box was more than an object; it was a tangible link to her grandmother. The thought of losing it… Sarah felt a sudden, sharp pain behind her eyes. “Did you know that?”