Gemotions

The attic air hung thick and dusty, catching in Amelia's throat as she pulled the box closer. This was it: the final archive of her mother’s life before Amelia. Inside, nestled amongst moth-eaten shawls and chipped teacups, she found it. The crisp white envelope, addressed in her mother’s elegant script to “Mr. Harrison, CEO, Sterling & Cole.” Her fingers trembled as she slid out the yellowed paper.

Her brow furrowed. The words swam before her eyes. It was a letter of resignation, dated nearly thirty years ago. Why had her mother, the woman who'd always spoken of her career with such quiet pride, never mentioned this? A knot formed in her stomach. She sat down abruptly on the dusty floorboards. The sun, slanting through the attic window, suddenly felt too hot on her skin.

She reread the words, searching for clues, for an explanation. The formal tone, the careful phrasing – it felt alien, completely at odds with the woman she’d known. This letter didn't fit the picture she had. She felt a vague sense of unease, like a puzzle with a crucial piece missing.