Gemotions

The smell of brewing coffee usually soothed Amelia, but today it was a tightening band around her chest. The old, familiar aroma now just reminded her of her mother. Her daughter, Chloe, had taken up the craft. Now, Chloe was running their old antique coffee machine, her tiny hands expertly managing the whole thing. Amelia's mother used to make her special, fancy lattes every morning.

Chloe had even started researching obscure bean varieties, just like her grandmother. Amelia couldn't bring herself to go into the kitchen. The kitchen held so many memories, but her stomach churned as she thought about what Chloe was doing.

She wandered into the living room, picking up a book but failing to focus. The ticking of the grandfather clock in the hall seemed louder than usual, each tick a hammer blow. The familiar sounds of Chloe's new hobby now felt like the echo of a ghost.