Gemotions

The antique shop was dimly lit, the air thick with dust and the scent of aged paper. Elias trailed a hand across a chipped porcelain doll, its painted eyes staring blankly ahead. He’d come seeking distraction, anything to silence the incessant thrum of his thoughts. He hadn't touched any of his own paintings in weeks, the vibrant colours mocking his grey mood. He really should have picked up the phone that day. The missed opportunity felt like a physical weight, pressing down on his chest.

A woman bumped into him, apologizing with a hesitant smile. "Oh, I'm so sorry. Didn't see you there." Her hand, unsteady, clasped a cane.

“No worries,” Elias mumbled, the words sounding foreign on his tongue. He noticed a tremor in her hands.

“I’m looking for something, anything really, to keep me occupied. It’s a habit.” She sighed, her shoulders slumping a little. “So, what are you looking for, if you don't mind me asking?”

“Just… looking.” He hadn’t felt the urge to share with anyone in a long time. Suddenly, he wanted to tell her everything. "My mother used to bring me here." He realized he was talking more now.