Gemotions

Liam was perched on the edge of the sofa, bouncing his leg like a jackhammer. He glanced at the clock – another hour before he could leave for his friend's. The delay felt like a physical weight, pressing down on him. He needed out. He needed something. Anything.

He’d been tasked with clearing out his late mother's storage unit. The task was overwhelming, an ocean of memories he wasn’t sure he was ready to navigate. He was supposed to focus. He just wanted to go.

A small, leather-bound trunk caught his eye. He pried it open, its hinges groaning. Inside, he found a treasure trove. His mother's high school essays, meticulously corrected and annotated. He picked up one, a reflection on the meaning of life, and felt a strange tug in his chest. A profound and sudden desire to connect with this ghost. He closed the lid, his agitation intensified.