Gemotions

The frantic scrubbing of the walls had stopped. Sarah was exhausted, both physically and emotionally. The drawings, the endless sketches of the thing she used to call "Shadow," were a constant reminder of a nightmare that had haunted her. Then, her daughter, Emily, brought home the new picture from preschool. Sarah stared at the drawing, a clumsy rendition of the familiar figure. A wave of exhaustion washed over her. She sank onto the couch, her muscles slack.

“Mommy, is he nice?” Emily asked, her voice small.

Sarah reached out and gently ruffled her daughter's hair. "Yes, honey. He's very nice." The stale air in the room suddenly felt fresh. The knot in her stomach began to unravel. She felt a sudden urge to laugh, a wild, almost hysterical release.