Gemotions

The scrolling on the laptop seemed to speed up, her finger a blur on the trackpad. A small, involuntary giggle escaped her lips as the listing’s photos materialized: the crooked rose bush, the paint-chipped porch swing, the familiar, slightly lopsided mailbox. A warmth spread through her chest. It was a sunbeam kind of feeling.

She clicked the “share” button, immediately composing a message to her brother and sister. “Guess what I found!” she typed, adding a string of exclamation points and emojis of smiling faces. The anticipation of their reactions made her bounce in her chair.

The real estate agent's description read like a nostalgic poem, and the words, almost as well-worn as the front door, made her grin so wide her cheeks hurt. She felt like she could leap up and do cartwheels, right there in her small apartment.