Gemotions

The tiny apartment felt like a cage after the vastness of the world she had experienced. The thought of returning to her childhood bedroom used to fill her with dread. Now, as she turned the key in the front door, she felt a thrill. She could do this. She knew her parents would have a mountain of questions, but she’d handle them.

Her father, usually a worrier, simply smiled and gestured toward the couch. “Welcome home, sweetheart. Dinner's almost ready.”

She tossed her keys onto the entry table. She did her best to meet her father's eyes, not flinching. She could fix her life. She would fix her life. The familiar scent of her mother's cooking, comforting and predictable, filled the air. She walked into the kitchen, a smile playing on her lips. She asked if she could help.