Gemotions

The weight of the box felt disproportionate to its size. As he opened it, Andrew noticed his palms grow slick with sweat. He knew these photos would reveal family secrets. He had always been told a specific tale.

The photos were an unwelcome surprise. They showed his aunt, a woman who had been revered as a selfless martyr, in a variety of glamorous settings, laughing and enjoying a life that had never been shared. His breath hitched in his throat.

He felt a sudden, profound need to run. He felt the blood drain from his face and a coldness settle in his stomach. The photographs, he realized, had shattered a carefully constructed facade.