Gemotions

The house felt too small, too confining. Claire moved through the rooms with a nervous energy, her footsteps quick and erratic. She felt a knot forming in her stomach, a persistent unease that she couldn't explain. She needed to do something, anything, to break free from this feeling.

She stumbled upon a forgotten corner of the basement. A trunk, hidden beneath a pile of old blankets, beckoned her. Inside, nestled among faded photographs and trinkets, were her mother’s school projects. A detailed diorama of a Roman market, a perfect essay on Shakespeare. The sheer effort, the dedication, made her chest feel tight. She felt a pull, a desire to understand, but mostly the need to flee. She slammed the trunk shut, the sound a small explosion in the quiet space.