Gemotions

The house was silent, save for the rhythmic tick-tock of the grandfather clock. Michael shuffled through the photos, each one a slap in the face to everything he thought he knew about his ancestors. His great-great-grandmother, the pious woman who'd allegedly shunned all worldly pleasures, was dancing the Charleston.

He let out a shaky breath. His grip on the worn photographs loosened. He felt a calmness he'd not known existed. The pressure to live up to a false ideal was gone. He felt... free.