Gemotions

The scent of lavender wafted from the old linen closet, a smell that transported Emily back to her childhood. She’d been tasked with cleaning out the space, a tedious chore she'd been putting off. As she sorted through stacks of fabric, a letter slipped out.

It was addressed to her grandmother, and written by her mother during a time of great upheaval in the family. She remembered her mother’s unhappiness, a shadow that had cast itself over the whole household.

Emily felt a familiar tightening in her stomach, the echo of unresolved grief. The letter revealed a tenderness she had never associated with her mother during the period of her childhood. The ache of unspoken truths hung heavy in the air.