Gemotions

He’d always believed his great-grandmother, a stern, religious woman, had lived a life of unwavering piety. Yet, here, in an album pulled from a forgotten trunk, were photos of her in a shimmering dress, laughing at a dimly lit speakeasy with men in fedoras. He felt a tremor in his hand.

The room seemed to spin slightly. He sank back into the dusty chair, suddenly feeling weak. He’d built his perception of this woman on stories, on legend. This reality was vastly different. A sense of unease washed over him, a cold tide threatening to drown his understanding of his family.