Gemotions

The sunlight streamed into the attic, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air. Sarah, armed with a flashlight, had been tasked with sorting through old boxes. Amidst faded photographs and forgotten toys, she found a sketchbook. Flipping through the pages, she was stopped by a drawing of a shimmering, winged figure. It was the same one her niece, Maya, insisted was her best friend, Lumina.

Sarah felt a chill run down her spine. Lumina. The radiant guardian who had kept her company during lonely afternoons. She touched the paper, her fingers brushing against the faint, almost invisible lines of the drawing. It felt too real.

A pang of something akin to sadness struck her. Maya spoke of Lumina with such joy, such absolute belief. Sarah closed the sketchbook, her heart heavy with a familiar burden. She closed the lid and, without another thought, decided to leave the sketchbook where she found it.