Memories cluster in her chest, fat heavy bats that cling to ribs and steal her breath away. #Verklempt, her neighbors dub her and bring warm soup and casseroles to soothe the pain.

It gets better, they promise, but she doesn’t wait and the bats find new roosts by spring.

verklempt adjective (ver·​klempt fər-ˈklem(p)t vər-)
: overcome with emotion : choked up