Gemotions

He whistled as he unlocked the gate, the melody bouncing off the newly manicured hedges. Happiness welled up in him, a tide he couldn't contain. This house, with its wrap-around porch and blooming hydrangeas, was a dream come true. He ran to the front door, his feet light as air.

He danced through each room, visualizing the parties he would throw, the laughter that would fill the space. The kitchen, with its gleaming countertops, already felt like the heart of the home. He imagined baking pies, the delicious scents wafting through the house.

The email popped up on his phone: a historical report. "Previous owners," it read, "police investigation regarding a homicide…" The words blurred before his eyes. His body grew still, a sensation of ice prickling his skin.