Gemotions

He sat frozen, the glow of the screen reflecting in his wide eyes. The listing was more detailed than he expected. He scrolled through the photos, each one a slap in the face. The living room, where he and his siblings had wrestled, the backyard where he’d learned to ride his bike. It was all there, preserved in pristine digital clarity.

A shiver ran down his spine. It was like time had stopped, and the house had simply been waiting for him. He remembered the creak of the floorboards, the way the sunlight streamed through the kitchen window in the morning. He clenched his fists, fighting back an unexpected surge of feeling.

“Wow,” he said aloud, his voice barely a breath. He had to see it. He had to experience it again. He clicked the link for the real estate agent’s contact information, his hand shaking.