Gemotions

The weight of the car door slamming, the click of the lock, and the crinkle of the autumn leaves underfoot had her chest suddenly tighten. Sarah watched as her mother opened the front door. "Oh, honey, you're back!" Her mother's warm embrace felt all-encompassing.

The smell of cinnamon and spices hit her first, then the sight of the cozy kitchen. The counter held a bowl of apples, the same kind she remembered being there every fall when she was a little girl.

She felt a strange yearning, a pull she couldn't name, as she saw the familiar scenes of a life she’d left behind. It was almost like a dream, the way she was there again.