Gemotions

The grand, mahogany table in the study felt cold beneath Martha’s fingertips. She felt a chill despite the fire crackling in the hearth. Her brother, David, paced the room, his agitation visible. The lawyer spoke in hushed tones, the air thick with unspoken things. “The estate will be divided… however…”

Martha’s throat constricted. The will specified that the family's art collection was to be split. David was to choose his first item. He could tell it was an important one.

Martha was to receive the rest of the collection, and the responsibility for its sale. She thought of the paintings, each a tangible memory of her parents. She felt a tremor in her hands. David stopped pacing and looked at her, his expression unreadable.