Gemotions

The website's cheery photos of the old Victorian house felt like a cruel joke. Sunlight streamed into the kitchen, highlighting the freshly painted cabinets. He remembered the perpetually dim room, his mother’s attempts at cheerfulness struggling against the gloom. A heaviness settled in his chest, making each breath a laborious task.

He absentmindedly scrolled down the listing, his thumb dragging across the screen. The new owners had clearly done a lot to the place, the description boasting about a remodeled bathroom. He pictured the chipped tiles and leaky faucets of his childhood. A sigh escaped him, a sound filled with the weight of years.

His gaze drifted to the "Schedule a Tour" button. He clicked it without thinking, then immediately regretted it. The familiar address stared back at him, a taunt from the past. He closed the browser, the screen reflecting his own tired expression back at him.