Gemotions

He paced the living room, the worn rug a familiar obstacle. The lawyer had just left, delivering the final blow: equal shares. His sister, Rachel, would inherit half. He felt a throbbing ache behind his eyes.

He kicked at the fireplace hearth, a sharp, satisfying *thud*. The silence that followed was even more maddening. This house, their grandmother’s sanctuary, was supposed to be his. Now, he’d have to share it, a thought that made his stomach churn.

The sound of Rachel's car pulling into the driveway ripped through the still air. He froze, his jaw tight. He wouldn't give her the satisfaction of seeing him like this.