Gemotions

The antique key felt like a brand in Amelia’s palm. She slammed it against the peeling paint of the front door, the sound echoing in the stale silence of the house. Her brother, Leo, just stood there, hands in his pockets, a placid smile playing on his lips. She could practically taste the contentment radiating from him. It made her stomach clench.

"Well, aren’t you just *thrilled*?" she spat, the words sharp as shards of glass. Leo flinched, the smile finally fading.

Amelia marched inside, ignoring the musty smell that always hit her first. Leo's shadow fell across her as she strode into the living room. The floral wallpaper, the lumpy sofa, even the dust motes dancing in the sunlight – it was all a suffocating reminder of everything she’d tried to escape. She couldn't understand why this was happening.