Gemotions

The afternoon sun cast long shadows, but they couldn't dispel the shadows within her. She was supposed to be tackling the daunting task of sorting through her great-aunt's belongings. The thought of it sapped her energy, leaving her feeling depleted and slow.

She reluctantly pulled out a photo album. Her great-aunt, who had always seemed a figure of stern formality, was depicted in a series of snapshots that revealed a different story: a woman hiking in the mountains, a woman painting by a lake, a woman with a group of friends laughing.

A sudden lightness filled her, the previous gloom lifting. She sat a little straighter, a spark of interest igniting within her. She turned the pages, eager to learn more.