Gemotions

The weight of the silence in the old manor house pressed down on Henry. He was perched on the edge of the antique armchair, his posture stiff, his gaze fixed on the ornate fireplace. His sister, Olivia, was perched across from him, sipping tea, her movements unnervingly graceful. Every creak of the floorboards felt like a hammer blow.

The lawyer's voice was a low hum, detailing the distribution of their parents’ estate. The ancestral home, the investments, the art collection… Olivia was due to receive the lion’s share, as the elder sibling. Henry was prepared for this.

"And to Henry," the lawyer concluded, "the family’s extensive library, comprising rare first editions and historical manuscripts, along with the responsibility of cataloging and preserving them.” Henry's breath caught in his throat. He felt a sudden, inexplicable lightness, a feeling of being untethered. Olivia choked on her tea.