Gemotions

The realtor had described the house as “full of surprises.” This was an understatement. Behind the crumbling plaster in the basement, Clara found a hidden room. Her breath hitched.

The room was cramped, no bigger than a large closet. Old newspapers were strewn across the floor, their headlines yellowed with age. There was a single, battered wooden chair. It was the only thing in the room.

Clara sat in the chair, and let out a long sigh. She felt the weight of the past pressing down on her. She had a sudden, fierce desire to clean the space, to make it worthy of some kind of hope.