Gemotions

The house felt cold, even with the central heating blasting. Emily missed the comfort of her sister, the way they’d shared everything, from clothes to secrets. Now, she was on her own, and the sheer volume of choices overwhelmed her. The decor, the garden, everything felt like a project she was utterly unqualified to manage.

She discovered the hidden room whilst attempting to fit a new kitchen cabinet. A loose plank in the pantry, pulled away, revealed a small, dark space. The air inside felt stagnant and heavy.

She stood there, frozen, the unfinished cabinet a symbol of her supposed self-sufficiency. A tremor ran through her, a wave of both fear and a strange, insistent whisper telling her to stay, to discover, to *not* be alone.