Gemotions

The vast, echoing silence of the inherited mansion was almost unbearable. Ava, her stomach churning, gripped the small, velvet box in her hands. Inside lay a single, antique locket, a treasured trinket from her grandmother. Her brother, Ethan, had been left the mansion itself, opulent and cold.

Ethan, already making plans for renovations and parties, barely acknowledged her presence. She felt the blood drain from her face. His words felt sharp, and cold. He was absorbed in his own importance.

She opened the locket, revealing a tiny portrait of her grandmother, her smile warm and gentle. She held it close, the cold metal a comforting weight against her skin. The loneliness was still present, but less severe.