Gemotions

The old house felt empty, the silence amplifying the rhythmic tick of the grandfather clock. Jessica, wandering through the house she'd inherited, found the photos in a forgotten drawer. Her Uncle Richard, a distant figure in her life, was portrayed by the family as a man who cared only for his business, as someone always focused on the bottom line. He was a successful businessman, but nothing more.

The photographs told a different tale. One picture showed Richard smiling on a hiking trail, his face alight with joy. Another revealed him surrounded by friends in a crowded pub. She had always imagined him working, making deals, being stern and serious. A strange emotion welled up inside her, a feeling she couldn't quite name. She hadn't known this side of him.