Gemotions

The attic door creaked open, revealing a world of forgotten memories. Leo stared, his initial curiosity quickly replaced by a wave of something else. This wasn't some quaint collection of antiques. It was a dumping ground.

A dusty mannequin stood in the corner, clad in an outdated dress. A collection of porcelain dolls, their painted eyes staring blankly, filled a shelf. Boxes overflowed with knick-knacks and trinkets, each one a testament to the previous owners' lack of appreciation for things that had some value.

He lifted a tarnished silver frame, inside an old, blurry photograph of a smiling family. *How utterly predictable*, he thought, his voice dripping with an emotion he didn't name. He slammed the frame down on the shelf. The mess was going to be a chore to deal with.