Gemotions

The afternoon sun streamed into the living room as Maya sat amongst the boxes. The air was thick with the scent of aged paper and the echoes of the past. She sifted through the treasures, her heart heavy with emotion.

She found a handmade card for Mother’s Day, decorated with glitter and macaroni. The message, written in her shaky, childish handwriting, made her eyes well up. She focused on the words, trying to grasp the spirit of the child who had written them.

She reached for a drawing of a family portrait, a vibrant depiction of her, her parents, and their dog. She remembered the laughter that had filled their home, the feeling of safety and belonging. She felt both a great joy and an inexplicable sorrow.