Gemotions

The relentless sun beat down on the freshly painted walls, radiating a sickening heat. Sarah felt the humidity clinging to her like a second skin. Everything about the new house—the pastel colors, the perfectly trimmed hedges—made her skin crawl. She wanted to smash something, anything.

She was "impressed" with the attic, the realtor had said. She found a loose panel in the wall. She ripped it open with a satisfying crack. She knew, she just knew, that she would hate what was behind it.

She climbed inside, the air turning instantly colder, the musty smell stinging her nostrils. A single, wooden box sat there, untouched, and unloved. She felt a sick satisfaction as she slammed the panel shut, leaving the damn thing in the shadows.