Gemotions

The wallpaper was peeling in strips, revealing layers of previous attempts to cover the flaws. The whole scene felt like a cruel joke. He pulled at a loose thread, his fingers aching with suppressed irritation.

He felt the muscles in his jaw clench. Every surface in the house seemed to be covered in a film of grime. He kicked a discarded paint can across the room, the clang echoing through the empty space. "Damn it," he muttered under his breath, wanting to be anywhere else.

His sister, Olivia, was happily taking photos of the kitchen. She thought it was “charming”.