Gemotions

The inspector’s report lay on the kitchen island, a stark white rectangle that had suddenly become the center of her universe. Details. Photos. The word "deceased" repeatedly stamped across pages. She’d always loved the kitchen's bright, cheerful atmosphere, the sunlight streaming in through the large window over the sink. Now, the stainless steel appliances gleamed with an unsettling coldness, reflecting an image she barely recognized.

She picked up a mug, her hand trembling. The chipped paint on the cupboards seemed to whisper secrets. She tried to picture the previous owners, a couple she'd never met. Had they known? Had they felt this…this unraveling? She wanted to scream. She wanted to run. She couldn't move.