Gemotions

The afternoon sun streamed through the window, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air as Emily organized her mother’s things. The simple act of putting things in order soothed her. She felt like it was putting her own life back in order.

A series of photographs showed her mother in her youth, smiling with an intimacy that was completely unfamiliar. The faces of the people surrounding her were also foreign. Emily placed the photo back in the album, a slight smile curving her lips.

“Well,” she whispered, her voice soft, “that's quite a story.” She straightened the album, then began to arrange the pictures again, a sense of quiet accomplishment filling her.