Gemotions

The smell of old paper and mothballs filled the basement. Grace carefully lifted the lid of the trunk. Inside, nestled amongst tissue paper, were her elementary school projects: construction paper turkeys, crayon drawings of family portraits, and spelling tests marked with red pen. She’d never felt so exposed.

She pulled out a report on the solar system. Her mind swarmed with images of the classroom. She remembered feeling insecure, awkward. Why had her mother held on to these memories, each a reminder of her insecurities?

She sat down heavily, the trunk pressing against her legs. She felt a profound sense of exhaustion. She did not know what to do.