Gemotions

The last rays of the sun cast long shadows across the living room. Sarah straightened the cushions on the sofa. Everything was tidy, just how she liked it. Her niece, Ava, had been drawing all day, filling the house with color. She’d spent her younger years with a friend called "Sparkle", a creature made out of stars.

Ava ran into the room, a drawing clutched in her hands. There was Sparkle, in all her celestial glory. Sarah’s breath caught in her throat.

"She always cheers me up!" Ava chirped. Sarah looked at the drawing, a smile forming on her lips. She felt a peaceful quietness, a calm satisfaction, spread through her. She reached for her book, feeling deeply calm.