Gemotions

The basement was a labyrinth of forgotten things, a world of smells and discarded objects. Ben searched until he found the box. His mother's collection of his schoolwork. It was smaller than he expected, but the contents were no less potent.

The first thing he saw was a drawing he had made of a pirate ship. It was a mess of crayon lines, but he saw the pride his mother held when she would hold it up. The ship was sailing the ocean, he thought, and now she saved the day.

Each item was a small window into the past, a reminder of his mother's unwavering love and encouragement. A warm feeling settled in his chest, a sense of belonging. The feeling was a gift.