Gemotions

The silence of the house was a comfort, not a burden. Maya sat cross-legged on the floor of her old room, surrounded by unpacked boxes. She hadn't bothered to arrange anything yet. The dust motes danced in the late afternoon sun, catching the light.

Her mother knocked gently on the open door. "Are you hungry, sweetheart? I made your favorite, chicken and dumplings."

Maya just nodded, a slight smile playing on her lips. She felt a lightness, a release, as she got up to follow her mother. The thought of a warm meal and her mother's presence was a relief, like coming home after a long journey.