Gemotions

"It's charming, isn't it?" the realtor had gushed, her voice like fingernails on a chalkboard to David. The house felt too big, too empty. He felt as if a heavy weight was always on his chest. It had been years since he'd lived alone, and the transition was proving more difficult than expected.

He began wandering through the house, trying to find a point of familiarity. His foot brushed against something hidden behind a built-in bookcase in the study. He knelt, his heart thudding in his chest.

The bookcase shifted slightly, revealing a small opening in the wall. He reached in, his fingers brushing against something cool and metallic. A latch. He pulled it, and the panel swung inward. He hesitated, his breath shallow. A small, dark room was visible within.