Gemotions

The listing stared back at her, crisp and inviting. Pictures of sun-drenched rooms, a manicured lawn, and a smiling family – not her family, obviously – adorned the screen. A knot tightened in her stomach. She clicked on the virtual tour, her fingers hovering over the mouse.

Each flawlessly decorated room was a fresh stab. The updated kitchen, once her mother’s domain, gleamed with stainless steel. The new owners had replaced the ancient, chipped countertops with marble. Her jaw clenched. She remembered the sticky vinyl and the endless arguments over doing the dishes.

“Beautiful, isn't it?” her husband, Mark, asked from behind her. His voice felt like a taunt.

“Yeah,” she replied, her tone flat. “Just… really nice.” She slammed the laptop shut, the sudden movement a release.