Gemotions

The car ride back had been silent, the air thick with unspoken things. Now, standing on the cracked pavement, Liam felt a strange disconnect. His sister, Chloe, skipped ahead, humming a jaunty tune that grated on his nerves. He trailed behind, the house seeming to swell and shrink with each breath he took. He felt like he was watching a play, and he was the only member of the audience.

The front door, with its chipped paint and warped wood, seemed to sneer at him. He knew they’d have to sort through everything. He thought of all the years his grandmother had lived here, the stories she’d told, and felt a pressure in his chest.

Inside, the scent of lavender and old paper hit him like a physical blow. Chloe was already opening drawers, examining knick-knacks, and chattering about this and that. He drifted through the rooms, unable to connect with anything he saw. It was a space, filled with things, yet it had no weight.

He found himself wandering into the kitchen, staring at the chipped porcelain teapot on the counter. He felt completely adrift, bobbing in a sea of unspoken emotions.