Gemotions

The house seemed to shrink around Emily. She sat at her mother’s desk, the desk now hers. Her mother's bucket list lay open before her: "Ride a Horse on the Beach." A sob escaped her, and she had to clench her teeth to prevent further ones.

She ran her fingers over the smooth wood of the desk, remembering her mother’s smile, her laugh. The paper seemed to burn in her hands. Why hadn’t she taken the time to truly see her mother? Why hadn’t she understood the dreams hidden beneath the surface? The grief felt like a physical weight, pressing down on her chest.