Gemotions

"You bought a what?" His sister's words rang in his ears. It didn't take long for him to discover his new house's dark history: a woman had disappeared within its walls years ago, never to be found. Just recently, he lost his brother.

He ran his hands over the smooth wood of the dining table, the sunlight catching the dust motes dancing in the air. He had envisioned dinner parties, laughter, life. Now, the room felt hollow, the air stale.

The silence of the house was deafening, broken only by the frantic beat of his own heart. He wrapped his arms around himself, as if trying to hold himself together, trying to stop the world from crumbling.