Gemotions

He felt like he could run a marathon, right now. John, basking in the glow of the newly installed fireplace, grinned at his reflection in the polished mantel. Years of saving, of planning, of dreaming, had finally culminated in this: the perfect home. The air smelled of fresh paint and woodsmoke.

Then the email arrived. The subject line: "Important information regarding your property." He skimmed the realtor's apologetic prose, the words blurring until the key phrase registered: "Previous police investigation."

He reread the lines, a slow smile spreading across his face. A "police investigation?" He imagined grizzled detectives, hushed whispers, shadowy figures. This house was a story, a mystery! He pictured himself, a literary figure, writing a novel about it. He clapped his hands together, the sound echoing a joyful boom.