Gemotions

The air in the apartment felt stale, a weight pressing down on her. She couldn’t bring herself to start the laundry or tidy up. Her gaze kept drifting to the dusty corner, where old boxes were stacked. She went to them.

She pulled out a box and opened it, her fingers brushing against brittle paper. Old photographs tumbled out. Her grandfather, a man she’d always associated with stern authority, was captured in a photograph with a group of friends. They were drinking and laughing.

One photo showed him playfully wrestling with a man. It was a complete contrast to the stoic figure she remembered. The image didn't match the family narratives. She felt a knot forming in her throat, a wave of discomfort washing over her.