Gemotions

The old scrapbook sat on the desk, the pages brittle and yellowed. Sophia traced the outline of a picture. Her Aunt Carol, known for her prim and proper demeanor, was in this photo, dressed in something revealing, her expression carefree. A stark contrast to the narratives, the hushed tones about her quiet life.

She exhaled slowly, a long, drawn-out sound. The family had always presented her aunt in a certain way, a way that now seemed…false. This made her head spin.

She rose from her chair and walked toward the window, looking out into the garden. The sunshine felt inadequate, unable to fully illuminate the darkness of the family's past.