Gemotions

The attic felt like a tomb. Sunlight streamed through a single, grimy window, illuminating dust particles and the damning photographs in Claire's hands. Each picture showed a different side of her uncle, the family’s beloved patriarch, a facet of his life she didn't recognize.

Her chest tightened. The air was thin, making it difficult to breathe. The walls seemed to close in, and a sudden, sharp pain flared in her head. She felt as though she might be sick. She desperately wanted to scream but all that came out was a strangled gasp, her eyes darting between the photos and the shadows in the room.