Gemotions

"Well, this is… something," Maya murmured, her gaze sweeping across the cluttered living room. Her brother, Leo, just grunted in response. She was keyed up, her heart drumming a frantic rhythm against her ribs.

The house felt expectant, holding its breath. The silence was almost deafening. Every object, from the chipped porcelain doll on the mantelpiece to the faded floral wallpaper, seemed to whisper secrets. She touched the cold, smooth surface of the piano, the wood feeling slick under her fingertips.

"We should start clearing things out," Leo said, already heading toward the kitchen. Maya wasn't ready to start. The idea made her uneasy. She wanted to absorb the space, to understand it. She wanted to know more.

She walked towards the front door, peered out, and walked back in to open the dusty old gramophone.