Gemotions

The cold seeping from the newly discovered room raised gooseflesh on Maya's arms. She’d always felt an inexplicable melancholy about this house; it had a history, that much was clear. The realtor hadn't mentioned this, the hidden compartment behind the bookshelf in the library. Inside, a single, tarnished silver locket lay on a velvet cushion. She lifted it; it was surprisingly heavy. A photograph, faded but visible, showed a smiling woman and a young boy. Their faces lit up from a shared joy. A wave of sorrow, sharp and unexpected, struck her. She clutched the locket tightly, the metal cold against her skin.