Gemotions

The appraisal came in the mail. Liam, a real estate agent, was tasked with valuing the house next door. Mrs. Rodriguez's house. The one with the chipped paint and the perpetually overgrown lawn. He opened the file, and his pulse quickened. He hadn't expected this.

Inside were details of an art collection that would make any museum curator jealous. He scrolled through pictures of a Renoir, a Monet, and a Picasso. He had to reread the document. His mouth fell open. He knew nothing about her, or her life, beyond the surface.

He leaned back in his chair, feeling a strange mix of disbelief and fascination. All those years, he had judged a book by its cover. A wave of regret washed over him. He felt as though he’d missed something important.