Gemotions

He’d always considered himself a practical man. Finding the attic crammed with boxes, though, left him feeling… unsettled. The previous owners, a family he’d only glimpsed in passing, had certainly left their mark. He began sorting through the items.

A collection of porcelain dolls stared up at him from a dusty box. Their painted smiles seemed mocking. He felt a prickle of discomfort as he picked one up; its cold, unyielding porcelain pressing against his palm.

He hadn’t anticipated this burden. He’d envisioned a simple clear out. He slammed the box shut, the sound echoing in the stillness. He felt a sudden, inexplicable urge to scrub the attic walls clean, to erase the lingering presence of these strangers. The dolls seemed to know something, and they'd left their secret behind.