Gemotions

The house felt cold, even with the central heating on full blast. His sister, Sophia, was already measuring windows, planning new curtains and furniture. He walked into the living room, and sat down on the old, worn sofa, remembering countless nights he had spent watching television here with his grandmother. He felt a deep longing for those days.

He looked at the dusty bookshelves, filled with his grandmother's well-loved novels. He imagined himself curled up on the sofa, reading one of those books. He picked one up, opening it at random, and a pressed flower fell out. He felt a sudden ache.

He knew his sister was concerned about practicality. He would have to convince her that it was more than just a house. He needed to preserve this place for the memories.

"Sophia," he said, his voice thick, "Maybe we could just… leave it for a while?"