Gemotions

The afternoon light cast long shadows across the hallway as Emily aimlessly wandered through the house. Her footsteps echoed on the hardwood floors, a lonely counterpoint to the quiet. She picked up a photograph from a side table, a picture of her younger self, laughing. She couldn’t remember the last time she felt that lighthearted.

She placed the photo back down. Everything felt… muted. The familiar scent of her mother's perfume, the comfortable creaks of the old house – all of it had become an unwelcome weight, reminding her of what wasn't there.

She picked up the TV remote again. The motion felt mechanical, an automatic response to the void within. She clicked through the channels, each one failing to ignite even a flicker of interest.