Gemotions

The morning sun, a glaring spotlight, demanded she get up. A low groan escaped Amelia’s lips. It was too much effort to even pull the covers higher. The silence of the house was a heavy blanket, muffling the world. Her niece, Lily, was in the living room, probably making a mess. Amelia knew she should check on her, but the thought of leaving the warm cocoon of her bed was an insurmountable obstacle. She closed her eyes, imagining the dust motes dancing in the sunlight, the smell of crayons, the inevitable chaos. Maybe later.

A drawing of a stick figure with impossibly large, mismatched eyes rested on the kitchen table. Lily had been experimenting with coloring pencils. Amelia picked it up, vaguely curious. The stick figure, a frequent character in Lily's artistic endeavors, was now holding hands with a creature she didn't recognize. The creature was a blur of colors, with swirling lines and shapes that didn't quite make sense. It had an odd, slightly sad smile. Amelia sighed, setting the picture down. Just more art to clear up later.