Gemotions

Eliza stared at the laptop screen, her jaw slack. The old house. Listed. It had been years. A ridiculous smile stretched her face, muscles aching from the unfamiliar movement. She let out a small, breathless laugh. A wave of joy, so pure and potent, rolled through her.

She scrolled through the photos, the images stirring a whirlwind of recollections. The chipped paint, the crooked fence, the window seat where she would spend hours reading – all were vividly present. She felt the sudden urge to run, to shout, to simply *be*. Her hands felt tingly, she could hardly stay still.

Her mind raced. She needed to tell someone, but the thought of sharing it felt wrong. This was her secret, her personal celebration. She decided to go to the grocery store, and buy a bottle of champagne.