Gemotions

The phone rang, slicing through the quiet evening like a jagged blade. Edward flinched, even before picking it up. He already knew who it was. It was his sister, about the grandfather clock.

"Edward, darling, I've had a look at the appraisals…" Her voice was syrupy, designed to disarm, but the sound of it only made him want to disconnect the call.

He let out a short, frustrated sigh. His chest felt constricted.

He listened to her, his jaw clenching. He barely replied to any of her ideas. His silence was deafening. He knew he was being difficult.

"I need to go now," he said finally, his voice flat. He hung up without waiting for a response, and then he felt a bit of the anger slip away.