Gemotions

The apology came in a neatly tied package. Inside, nestled among tissue paper, was a small, tarnished silver locket. For years, she had blocked the memory from her mind. Now, the past was a physical object, something tangible she could hold. Elara’s breath hitched.

She stood in her kitchen, the sunlight reflecting off the polished counter, but the space seemed dark, dim. She felt a lightness, as if she were floating, detached from her own body. A disquieting hum filled her ears, drowning out the familiar sounds of her home.

She touched the locket. It was cold. She wanted to scream. She wanted to shatter it against the wall. Instead, she sat down heavily at the kitchen table, her hands trembling.