Gemotions

The air was thick with the scent of aged paper and dried flowers. The new homeowner, Liam, coughed, the dust making his throat scratchy. He told himself he was just curious, but the sensation in his stomach was different. He had no claim to these belongings.

He discovered a box containing a child's drawings, crudely drawn images of a family, a house, a dog. He stared at the vibrant colors, the innocent lines, the raw emotion they conveyed.

He felt a sudden, sharp pang of something he couldn’t name. He should put the box away. But he couldn't tear his eyes away from the drawings, the ghosts of the past staring back at him.