Gemotions

The inheritance, a modest sum, had finally arrived. Sarah had always dreamed of using it for a down payment on a house, a symbol of her independence. But as she read the letter, she felt a shift within her, a strange tightening in her chest.

“Do you recall when we used to play in the treehouse together?" Mark asked, a wistful smile on his face. "We thought we could run the world."

Sarah's mind immediately went to the bills she needed to pay. The idea of sharing, of splitting the money with her brother, felt like a punishment. She needed it all. She needed it, and the very concept was not negotiable.

"I've always had plans," she said quietly, her gaze fixed on the letter. "My own personal plans." The warmth had left the room.