Gemotions

The car ride had been quiet, punctuated only by the hum of the tires on the asphalt. James stared out the window, watching the landscape blur by. He felt the same way, everything blurred and indistinct. His sister, Sarah, talked about the possibilities, the renovations, the potential. He barely registered her words.

He stepped out of the car, the air thick with the scent of wet earth and something else, something he couldn't quite place. It smelled like the past, like loss. He knew he should be grateful for this inheritance, but all he felt was an overwhelming fatigue.

"Well," Sarah said, clapping her hands together, a forced cheerfulness in her voice. "Let's see what Grandma left us!" James followed her inside, his boots dragging against the worn wooden porch. He knew he wouldn't be able to stay there for long.