Gemotions

"Perfect starter home!" the agent had boomed, oblivious. Liam stood in the doorway, staring at the stain on the hardwood floor – a stain that wouldn't come out. The police report, obtained through a sympathetic friend, mentioned blood. A lot of blood.

His leg bounced uncontrollably. He gripped the edge of the kitchen counter, trying to find some purchase against the unseen currents that threatened to pull him under. He’d barely unpacked. Every box seemed like a potential hiding place, a dark corner where something could lurk.

He called his girlfriend, Sarah, her voice a lifeline. He told her he was fine, just tired. But his voice cracked, betraying the turmoil churning inside him. The house felt heavier, the air thicker, as if the past clung to the walls like an unwelcome guest.