Gemotions

The coffee shop was too loud, too bright. Amelia found herself overwhelmed, and eventually, she opted to stay inside her apartment. It wasn't much better there, but at least she could control the volume. She wandered aimlessly, eventually finding herself staring at a box labeled "Family History."

Inside, she discovered a collection of photos of her mother. The stories she had always heard described a woman who had been demure, timid, and always put her children first. The photos depicted a woman with an adventurous spirit. She was scuba diving, backpacking through Europe, and riding a motorcycle. Her jaw slackened slightly.

Amelia felt a strange hollowness expand inside her chest, a physical ache. She'd always felt like an outsider, misunderstood. Seeing these photos, she realized her life had been a series of mismatched expectations. She picked up a photo of her mother smiling broadly, and the silence in the apartment seemed to amplify its meaning.