Gemotions

The aroma of freshly brewed coffee did little to lift Amelia's mood. She sat across from her sister, Jessica, at their mother's kitchen table, a place steeped in shared history. Jessica was recounting the details of their family vacation to the beach, the sandcastles, the laughter.

Amelia’s memory was less rosy. She remembered the arguments, the sibling rivalry, the constant criticism, mostly from Jessica. Jessica painted a picture of a close-knit family, sharing joy and laughter.

She felt a wave of sadness wash over her. Jessica’s story, so effortless, so untroubled, made Amelia feel like a chronic complainer, a troublemaker. She wanted to interrupt, to correct her sister's version, but the words caught in her throat. She had always been the difficult one. The feeling of being misunderstood tightened in her chest.