Gemotions

Eliza found the antique music box at the bottom of a box of old things. A name was etched on the inside of the lid: “Arthur.” She remembered Arthur Finch. Always writing, always drawing, the quiet kid who seemed to watch her every move. She felt a cold dread suddenly wash over her.

She wound the key, and the melody began to play, a sweet, melancholic tune. It was a song she remembered playing in class, a song about loss and longing. The music seemed to fill the room, echoing with memories she had long tried to forget.

She quickly stopped the music, her heart pounding. She slammed the lid shut. A lingering sense of being observed crept up her spine, even after the last note had faded.