Gemotions

The old trunk smelled of mothballs and forgotten promises. It was while going through it that Claire found the photographs. The photos showed her parents laughing, holding hands, seemingly carefree. A stark contrast to the distant, often cold relationship she had with them. She felt a burning sensation in her throat. Her parents' narratives of their lives had always been fraught with hardship and sacrifice. She thought about all the missed birthdays, the cancelled holidays, the times she was told they were "too busy." She crumpled the photograph in her fist.