Gemotions

The doorbell rang, slicing through the quiet. David jumped, nearly dropping the grocery bag. He took a deep breath, trying to steady his trembling hands. This was it. The official move-in.

He took another shaky breath and opened the door. His parents stood there, their faces a mixture of forced smiles and something he couldn't quite name. He returned the hesitant greetings.

The hallway seemed narrower than he remembered. He felt exposed, like a bug under a magnifying glass. He wanted to run, to disappear back to his empty apartment. Instead, he forced a weak smile and followed them inside.