Gemotions

The renovation crew had unearthed the truth, hidden beneath the floorboards. A hidden compartment. A cache of illicit drugs, and a small, tarnished silver locket containing a photograph of a woman, long gone. The house, once a symbol of fresh starts, now reeked of secrets.

He walked through the house, his tools abandoned on the floor. The air hung heavy, thick with a sense of betrayal. He felt a cold dread creep into his bones. The kitchen, the living room, even the seemingly innocent flower garden, felt corrupted.

His stomach clenched, and he felt a bitter taste in his mouth. He picked up the locket, his fingers brushing against the cold metal. He ran his hands through his hair. He wanted to undo it all, to go back, to never have known. He dropped the locket and turned away, his shoulders slumped.