Gemotions

The musty air of the antique shop seemed to suffocate Henry. His sister, Iris, was already at the counter, negotiating with a prospective buyer. Her voice was brittle, her movements quick. “We need to sell everything,” she said. “We can’t afford to keep it.”

He drifted through the cluttered aisles, his feet dragging. He stopped at a display case and saw a beautiful old music box. It was a replica of the one his grandfather had. His heart skipped a beat, but he tried to shake it off.

Later, he found a small, locked box in the back room. He broke the lock and found it filled with rare and valuable coins. He felt nothing except emptiness.