Gemotions

The key scraped in the lock, a sound that used to signal freedom, but now felt…different. Elias pushed open the door, inhaling the familiar scent of lemon cleaner and something else—his mother’s cooking, likely. A grin stretched across his face as he imagined the spread waiting for him on the table. He hadn't seen her, or his father, in months. Maybe the move back wouldn’t be so bad.

His shoulders relaxed as he stepped into the entryway, the old wooden floorboards creaking under his weight. He could feel a warmth spread through him, a feeling that had been missing for too long. He glanced at the pictures on the wall, the memories momentarily pulling him back into the past. This felt right.

“Mom? Dad? I’m home!” he called, his voice filled with a lightness that surprised even himself. He heard the clatter of pots and pans from the kitchen, and his stomach rumbled. This was a fresh start.