Gemotions

He stared at the faded wallpaper, a dizzying pattern of flowers and vines. He knew he should be doing something, but the thought was slippery, impossible to grasp. A box sat open in the center of the room. He walked over to it. Inside, a collection of photographs. He didn't know any of the faces. They were all strangers.

He reached out and picked up a photograph of a smiling couple. They looked happy. He felt a pang of… something. Was it envy? Regret? He couldn’t tell. He stared at their faces for a long time. They were familiar, and yet, completely foreign.

He heard a floorboard creak. He spun around, his heart hammering against his chest. There was nothing. Just more boxes, more dust, more shadows. He felt a rush of anxiety, as if he had lost something important. He felt lost.