Gemotions

The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the living room. Olivia, perched on the edge of the sofa, watched the dust motes dance in the light. She'd been in this position for hours, and the world outside seemed a distant, abstract concept.

A phone call, breaking the silence. A lawyer, speaking of a deceased parent and an inheritance. And, of course, a sibling. Olivia listened, her mind already drifting to the prospect of endless phone calls, awkward family dinners, and mountains of paperwork.

She finally agreed to a meeting. The prospect of actually doing something was utterly disheartening. She sighed, pushing herself off the sofa with a visible effort, already dreading the hours of emotional and logistical effort that lay ahead.