Gemotions

The email arrived at 3:17 AM. Subject: "Important Matters." It was from Sarah, the woman who lived next door, the one with the perpetually cheerful demeanor and the perfectly coiffed hair. The attached file detailed her various real estate holdings, her offshore accounts…it was breathtaking, and sickening.

She sat bolt upright in bed, heart hammering against her ribs. The digital glow illuminated the room, making the shadows dance. Her breath hitched. She hadn't breathed properly since opening the file.

She threw back the covers, her legs shaky as she padded to the kitchen. She poured herself a glass of water, the cold glass a small comfort against the heat creeping up her neck. The silence in the house was deafening. Every creak, every groan of the old building, amplified the churning in her gut.