Gemotions

The silence, broken only by the gentle ticking of the grandfather clock in the hall, was a balm. No noisy neighbors, no blaring music, just…peace. Emily poured herself a cup of tea and sat in the sun-drenched conservatory, gazing out at the garden.

She began to organize the kitchen, putting away dishes, labeling jars. Her fingers moved with a newfound ease. Her thoughts, usually a tangled mess, felt clear, almost crystalline.

She heard her mother call her name, and the sound did not annoy her but sounded like the sweetest song she had ever heard.