Gemotions

The sunlight streaming through the window stung Evelyn's eyes. The dining room table was a disaster, covered in a chaotic jumble of photos and letters. She'd been promising herself to tackle the task for weeks. The chore, though, was another weight on her shoulders.

She picked up a faded snapshot. Her mother, always described as a delicate flower, was pictured leading a band of laughing children through a mud puddle, her face alight with an infectious glee. She’d always been told her mother was timid, a woman afraid of life.

Evelyn's breath hitched. A wave of exhaustion washed over her. She pushed the photograph away.