Gemotions

The doorbell rang, shattering the quiet. It was her aunt, bearing a gift, a large box tied with a brightly colored ribbon. She’d forgotten to mention her birthday to her aunt. Her eyes welled up with moisture. She accepted the gift, the weight of the moment pressing down on her.

She excused herself and fled to her bedroom, shutting the door behind her. She looked around the room, everything felt foreign, even her own belongings. The walls seemed to close in on her, and she felt a constriction in her throat.

She opened the box, revealing a collection of childhood photos. It took all of her strength not to sob. She found the familiar faces comforting, and a sense of calm washed over her.