Gemotions

The sun was already dipping below the horizon, casting long, eerie shadows across the overgrown garden. Sarah’s fingers were numb as she fumbled with the key, a chill spreading through her despite the warm evening. Her brother, Michael, was humming a song, completely relaxed.

Inside, the air was stagnant, heavy with the ghosts of forgotten memories. Each footstep on the creaking floorboards felt too loud, each shadow seemed to shift and change in the dim light. Sarah’s breath hitched in her throat.

She hugged herself, rubbing her arms. The weight of the house, of the past, pressed down on her. She felt pinned, stuck in place, unable to move. She needed to get out, and yet she couldn't.

"Everything's fine," she whispered, her voice barely audible.