Gemotions

The afternoon sun streamed through the window, illuminating dust motes that danced in the air, but the scene was anything but idyllic. Claire sat at her mother’s vanity, the letter spread out before her. It was a letter of resignation from her mother’s singing career, a career she had abandoned before Claire was born.

She picked up a lipstick, then put it back down. The letter, however, was blunt and concise. “The life is no longer fulfilling.” The words seemed to echo in the quiet room. Her mother never spoke of her singing career. Claire had heard rumors, hints, but never the full story.

She felt a hollowness in her chest, a sense of loss she couldn’t quite name. She hadn't expected to find this. She felt her throat constrict.