Gemotions

The moving truck rumbled away, leaving Amelia alone in her new home. It wasn't the peeling paint that bothered her, it was the feeling. The previous owners, she discovered through gossip with her new neighbors, had had a nasty experience. There were rumors of violence, of a locked room, whispers that quickly turned into shivers.

Amelia found the locked room, hidden behind a false wall in the basement. It was small, dusty, and smelled of stale air. She ignored the warning signs that told her to stay away, and forced the lock open. Inside, a scattering of old photographs, a faded dress, and a collection of handwritten letters. She felt a profound sadness for the woman who once occupied this space.

Amelia gathered the items carefully. She researched the woman's name and found the records. It had been her husband who had harmed her. Amelia decided to plant a rose bush by the basement window, a vibrant splash of color where darkness had once resided. She knew, somehow, that it was what the woman would want.