Gemotions

"This can't be happening," Maria murmured, staring at the overflowing boxes in her parents' garage. Her hands were shaking as she started sorting through her things. Her face was flushed. She'd told them she needed space, time to figure things out. This was not space. This was not time. This was a return to everything she'd tried to escape.

The air smelled of mothballs and forgotten memories. She stumbled over a box labeled "Maria's Childhood Treasures." Inside were old art projects, stuffed animals, and a collection of beanie babies. A knot formed in her throat. She felt a profound sense of loss, a wrenching feeling as if something inside her had just given way.

Her mother's voice, cheery and expectant, cut through the quiet. "Everything alright, honey?"