Gemotions

The house felt cavernous, the silence echoing in every corner. Hannah wandered through the rooms, each one a repository of shared memories, now tinged with the bittersweet knowledge of a future apart. She picked up a book from the shelf, a gift from Olivia, and ran her fingers over the cover, the words blurring before her eyes. She should have made more of an effort to visit Olivia.

The ache in her heart intensified. She realized, with a sharp pang, that she had been preoccupied with her own life. She had let the distance grow, and now it was too late.

She found herself standing in the doorway, watching the movers pack the last of Olivia’s belongings. She took a deep breath. She could still wave. She could still smile.