Gemotions

The attic stairs seemed to stretch into a black abyss, and Maya refused to go near them. Her brother, Samuel, had gone up to start clearing things out, but she hung back in the kitchen, unable to keep still. She kept checking her watch, her foot tapping incessantly.

She picked up a chipped teacup, turning it over and over in her hands. The silence was deafening, broken only by the creaks of the house settling. She jumped at a sudden gust of wind that rattled the windows. The thought of Samuel alone in the attic, surrounded by the remnants of their grandmother’s life, sent a shiver through her.

She found herself calling out, "Samuel, everything okay?" Her voice felt small and lost in the cavernous space. After a moment, she rushed toward the stairs.