Gemotions

The silence in the house was deafening. Ms. Bell felt adrift after her cat had passed away. A grief so large it seemed to consume her. She sat on the couch, staring at the empty space where her beloved pet used to sleep, her heart a leaden weight.

A package arrived. Inside, a framed photograph of a painting, a vibrant depiction of a cat, done by her former student, Leo, who always struggled with his art, but had found solace in cats. A small smile, fragile as glass, touched her lips.