Gemotions

She stared at the phone, its screen reflecting her pale face. The listing. Her childhood home. The knot in her stomach tightened with each click of the mouse, each new picture. The perfect lawn, the freshly painted shutters. Someone else would be sitting on the porch swing now.

She sank into her chair, the air feeling thick and heavy around her. A wave of nausea rolled over her. She felt like she wanted to cry. She didn't. She just sat there, breathing hard, trying to keep her composure. She wanted to scream.

She slowly began to get up, the effort exhausting. She needed to do something, anything. Maybe a cup of tea. It did not matter. She knew, somehow, that none of the usual things could soothe the awful feeling building up inside her.