Gemotions

The dusty attic air felt thick, making her throat constrict slightly. Emily squinted at the faded photograph clutched in her hand. There they were, her and Chloe, beaming at the camera, their faces framed by goofy hats. “The great pumpkin patch adventure!” Chloe had called it when arranging the meet-up.

Chloe had been rambling all morning about the magic of that autumn day, the crisp air, the perfect pumpkins, the hilarious hayride. All Emily could recall was the persistent chill, the itchy hay, and the overwhelming smell of decaying squash.

She flipped the photo over, her fingers tracing the worn cardboard. Chloe was going on about something else, her voice a bright, chirpy counterpoint to Emily's muted recollections. The more Chloe talked, the more disconnected Emily felt, like she was witnessing someone else’s past, and not her own.