Gemotions

The decision hung in the air, thick and oppressive, like the summer humidity. Her sister wanted to sell the carousel horse. It stood in the corner of the family room, a magnificent, carved creature, its painted eyes seeming to follow her every move.

She wrapped her arms around herself, as if to ward off a chill. Her head spun; the room twisted. The horse had been her father's favorite. Now it felt like a betrayal. "No," she finally whispered, the word lost in the vast silence.

Her sister gave her an impatient look, a look that cut deeper than any words. The air around the house, once filled with laughter, now felt thin, almost nonexistent.