Gemotions

The cursor hovered over the listing. A slideshow of brightly lit rooms, smiling families, and freshly cut lawns played on repeat. Sarah’s chest felt tight. Her breath hitched. That was her porch swing, that same dent in the oak tree she’d carved her initials into with a pocketknife. She’d tried to forget. Tried to bury the ache. Now, it was resurrected, sharper than ever.

She slammed the laptop shut, the metallic clack echoing in the silent apartment. Sunlight streamed through the blinds, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air. Each one felt like a memory, a forgotten laugh, a missed hug. She wandered to the window, staring out at the identical buildings across the street. A wave of nausea hit her, a sickening lurch in her stomach.

She ran her hands through her hair, a frantic gesture of trying to untangle something. The phone buzzed on the table. It was her sister. She didn't pick up.