Gemotions

The email notification had been a punch to the gut. He'd nearly deleted it, but curiosity, a bitter, gnawing thing, got the better of him. He stared at the images of his childhood home, the same street, the same trees, but… different. Polished. Perfect.

A coldness spread through him, freezing his limbs. He wanted to undo the renovations, to expose the rot beneath the surface. He felt a twisted desire to see the new owners' faces when they realized the truth, the truth that the house, no matter how prettified, was still the same place.

He scrolled through the listing, each detail grating on his nerves. The mention of a "cozy fireplace" brought a sour taste to his mouth. Cozy? He remembered the icy drafts, the silence that hung heavy in the air. He wanted to burn it all down.