Gemotions

The musty scent of the solicitor's office did little to calm Amelia’s racing pulse. Her brother, Thomas, was practically vibrating with excitement beside her, but Amelia couldn't shake the feeling of unease. Their parents, pragmatic to a fault, had left everything to them, of course. But the details... the solicitor cleared his throat, adjusting his spectacles. He gestured towards a leather-bound book.

"To Amelia, a detailed account of her mother's botanical collection, with special emphasis on the rare orchids," the solicitor announced. Amelia glanced at the book, its cover embossed with gold lettering. Her mother's orchids had been a passion, a carefully curated haven. A flicker of something that wasn't joy sparked within her.

Thomas received a deed to the family's old summer house, complete with a hefty bank account for upkeep. He beamed. Amelia, however, felt a coldness creeping up her spine, a prickling sensation that traveled from her toes to the base of her skull. The orchids. Her mother always said, "They are precious to me. More so than all the worldly possessions I have". The suddenness of it all felt wrong.