Gemotions

The dusty attic room felt colder than usual. Sarah found the passbook tucked away in a trunk, nestled amongst old photographs. Her heart clenched. Her husband, Michael, had been planning a trip. A trip without her.

She picked up a faded picture of them, younger, laughing. The image felt distant, like a memory from a different life. A knot formed in her stomach.

She ran a hand over the rough wood of the trunk, the gesture almost a caress. She knew she should confront him, but the thought of the conversation, the accusations, made her want to retreat into the shadows. She felt so defeated.