Gemotions

The laptop screen swam before Arthur's eyes, the listing’s headline practically screaming at him. “Charming Bungalow, Three Bedrooms, Large Yard.” His childhood home. Listed for sale. He nearly dropped the mouse. His breath hitched in his chest, a sudden, ragged intake. He slammed the lid shut, the click echoing in the sudden quiet of his apartment. He got up from his chair, pacing the small living room.

He felt a cold sweat prickle his skin. He grabbed his phone and texted his sister, a rapid-fire succession of question marks. Had she seen it? Did she know? Minutes ticked by, each one an eternity. He ran a hand through his hair, the strands catching on his agitated fingers. The waiting felt unbearable.

His phone buzzed. Her reply was succinct: "Yep. Crazy, right?" He sank back onto the sofa, the air escaping his lungs in a long, shaky exhale. He opened the listing again, the glossy photos of the familiar facade now mocking him. The perfectly manicured lawn, the freshly painted shutters… it was all so…wrong.