Gemotions

The price seemed obscene, a blatant disregard for the history contained within those walls. Her jaw tightened as she scrolled, the glossy images of the renovated bathrooms mocking her memories of leaky faucets and chipped tiles. A prickle of heat unfurled in her core, a slow burn that spread upwards, making her skin feel hypersensitive. She had to clench her fist to stop the tremors in her hand from betraying her.

“Damn it,” she muttered, her voice thick with emotion. The new, modern kitchen felt alien, a betrayal of the familiar chaos of her childhood. The agent's description of "luxury finishes" felt like a direct affront.

She slammed the laptop shut, the abrupt action making her jump. She felt… wired. She needed a distraction, something to ground her. Her fingers flew to her phone, scrolling through contacts, a desperate search for someone, anyone, to break the hold this listing had over her. She chewed on her lip, a knot forming in her stomach.