Gemotions

“Just get it over with,” Martha muttered under her breath, her voice raspy. She was already behind schedule for the day, and now this. The sun beat down on her back as she trudged up the attic steps.

The attic was a labyrinth of shadows and stored possessions. She had to navigate through boxes and furniture. She was about to give up when she spotted a storage box. Inside were children’s books, their pages dog-eared and worn. A wave of a familiar feeling washed over her as she leafed through them.

She found a crayon-drawn picture tucked inside one of the books. It was a simple depiction of a house, with a family standing in front. She closed her eyes. Maybe she'd let this be a distraction, something better than what she was facing.