Gemotions

The key scraped in the lock, a sound that should have resonated with a sense of homecoming, but instead, it felt wrong. Sarah pushed open the door, and a cloud of dust swirled out to greet her. The scent of mildew and neglect filled her nostrils, a stark contrast to the memories she held.

Her heart pounded in her chest. Everything looked unfamiliar. She moved from room to room, touching the surfaces of the furniture. She couldn't remember where anything was. Where were the pictures? The books? The familiar layout of the place was now a puzzle she couldn't solve.

She caught her reflection in a dusty mirror and blinked. Who was that person? It was her face, but she felt like an impostor, a trespasser in her own past. She stood in silence for a few minutes, then left, locking the door behind her.