Gemotions

The key scraped in the lock. Sarah felt a peculiar fluttering in her chest as she entered her old home. It was like stepping back in time, and she felt like she wasn't ready to face the past.

Her childhood bedroom had been transformed into a guest room, the familiar space now occupied by strangers. It felt alien and unfamiliar, a constant reminder of the life she had left behind.

Her mother, who used to make a mess everywhere, had become a neat freak.

Her mom, Linda, was waiting for her in the kitchen, radiating a forced energy. "Welcome home, darling!" she exclaimed, her voice a little too bright.

Sarah forced a smile, but it felt brittle, like it might shatter at any moment.