Gemotions

The key felt heavy in Leo's palm, a cold, metallic weight mirroring the ache in his chest. His sister, Maya, chattered excitedly beside him, pointing out peeling paint and overgrown roses. He just nodded, focusing on the rhythmic thud of his own pulse. It echoed the silence that had settled in his own life since… well, since everything. He hadn't wanted this house. He’d wanted… something else. Something he couldn't quite name.

He trailed Maya into the kitchen, the air thick with the scent of dust and forgotten things. Sunlight streamed through the grimy windows, illuminating motes dancing in the air, but Leo couldn’t seem to find any light within himself. He ran a hand over the chipped countertop, the rough texture a stark contrast to the smoothness he craved.

"Think we should sell it, or fix it up?" Maya asked, her voice brimming with optimistic energy. He looked at her, then back at the house, and shrugged. "Doesn't matter to me," he mumbled, turning and wandering back outside, leaving her alone in the kitchen.