Gemotions

The ceiling fan spun lazily overhead, a monotonous rhythm in the quiet apartment. Amelia traced the swirls in the condensation on her iced tea glass, a pointless exercise she repeated several times. The sunlight streaming through the window seemed to mock her inactivity. She sighed, a small puff of air that dissipated quickly. Picking up her phone, she scrolled through endless social media feeds, each post a fleeting distraction. Finally, she tossed it aside, the electronic glow extinguished. A nagging emptiness settled in her stomach.

She decided to revisit her old neighborhood. The streets were quieter than she remembered, the houses looking smaller. She found the familiar yellow house where she spent her summers, and her heart gave a small thud. She walked up to the door and rang the doorbell.

A woman she didn't know answered. "Can I help you?"

"I... I used to live next door," Amelia stammered. "With a girl named Sarah."

The woman frowned. "I don't know anyone named Sarah. We've lived here for five years." The door began to close. "Are you sure you have the right house?"

Amelia watched the door shut. She felt a profound sense of… something… as she turned and walked away.