Gemotions

Sweat beaded on Liam’s forehead as he stared at the eviction notice taped to the front door. The ink blurred through his watery eyes. He clutched the crumpled bank statement in his shaking hand, the balance a cruel joke. He had to figure something out, fast.

He slammed the door shut, the sound echoing in the empty hallway. Grandma Elsie’s house. The legacy. This was supposed to be the answer, the escape. Now, it was just another weight, another crumbling edifice threatening to crush him.

He kicked a loose floorboard in frustration. The inheritance, they said. A fresh start. He needed the money. He needed it now. The mortgage was due, and the bank wasn’t known for its patience. He ran a hand through his already disheveled hair, the strands catching on a stray nail.