Gemotions

The scent of lavender, his grandmother's favorite, still clung to the towels in the bathroom. He inhaled deeply, the fragrance triggering a wave of images—his grandmother, her hands gnarled with age, carefully folding the linens. He felt a soft, warm feeling bloom in his chest.

He found himself wandering through the house, touching things: the smooth wooden banister, the worn rug in the hallway. He realized that this was the same house, but it was also a different one. The people were the same but their lives had changed. He felt a sudden, sharp ache of missing her.

His mother, her face etched with worry, watched him from the doorway. He managed a weak smile, wishing he could somehow share this moment with his grandmother.