Gemotions

"Mom and Dad's place," the listing was titled. Liam grunted, the sound a mixture of disbelief and something akin to a challenge. He’d known it was coming, of course. His parents, elderly, had been wanting to downsize for ages. Still, seeing it *here*, online, felt like a betrayal.

He spent the rest of the evening scrolling through the photos, each one a slap in the face. The living room, once filled with the scent of his mother's baking, was now a sterile, minimalist space. The listing's descriptions felt like mockery.

The next morning, he skipped his usual routine. He skipped the gym. He skipped breakfast. He drove, letting the highway carry him towards the only place that felt real anymore.

He found himself standing at the front gate, the rusted hinges creaking a mournful song as he pushed it open, stepping into a world he was sure had forgotten him.