Gemotions

He'd just finished unpacking, arranging his books on the shelves, when the neighbor, a gossipy woman with a knowing smirk, stopped by. “Oh, did they tell you about the…incident?” He’d smiled, expecting a mundane neighborly chat. Now, he felt the blood drain from his face.

He found himself wanting to flee, but he was frozen. He looked at his books, now seeming so foreign and insignificant. He stared at the floor, wondering if he could ever feel comfortable here. The weight of the house settled on his shoulders, heavy and suffocating.

"No," he said flatly, his voice devoid of emotion.