Gemotions

The silence of the house was, for once, a welcome relief. Grace slipped inside, the click of the lock a small, discreet sound. The world seemed to be pressing in on her, demanding more than she had to give.

She just wanted the day to end.

Her father’s note on the kitchen counter, written in looping script, felt like a command. It requested help with the garden. It felt like another hill to climb. She sighed, a deep, weary exhalation that shook her entire frame. Maybe later, she thought, sinking into a kitchen chair.