Gemotions

The new neighbor, a bubbly woman named Carol, had cheerfully greeted Mark the next morning, blissfully unaware of the chilling details. "Oh, isn't it lovely?" she'd gushed, pointing at the rose bushes. Mark stared at her. Lovely? He wanted to shout at her, wanted to scream about the shadow that now clung to this property, but he held back. He would not allow the upbeat Carol to witness him lose control. He clenched his fists, forcing a smile, knowing that every blooming rose bush was a symbol of buried secrets.