Gemotions

The afternoon light filtered through the dusty windows of the spare bedroom, illuminating the chaos. Olivia felt a hot flush creep up her neck as she surveyed the scene: a collection of carefully labeled boxes. Her entire educational career, meticulously documented by her mother.

Inside, she knew, were the essays, the tests, the projects that defined her childhood. The triumphs, the failures, the moments she would rather forget. Now, they were all laid out for scrutiny. She felt a sense of dread, a tightening in her chest.

Her mother, beaming, held up a science fair project. "Remember your volcano? It was spectacular!" Olivia forced a laugh. Her body felt frozen, and she wanted nothing more than to escape. She excused herself, offering a vague explanation about a sudden need to take a shower.