Gemotions

The afternoon sun streamed through the dusty windows, illuminating the forgotten treasures in the old chest. Sarah was helping her aunt. She felt a curious flutter in her stomach as she unearthed an envelope with a single photograph inside.

It was her grandfather, in his younger days, but he wasn’t alone. He was standing with a woman. This woman wasn’t her grandmother. They were embracing. Her grandfather was laughing.

The photograph felt like a physical blow. The simple tales of his life now seemed tainted, distorted. Sarah's breath caught in her throat. She needed air.