Gemotions

Sunlight streamed through the kitchen window, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air. Sarah hummed a jaunty tune as she flipped pancakes, the scent of maple syrup already making her stomach rumble with anticipation. Today was moving day, and she was finally, *finally* settling into her dream home. She’d spent weeks agonizing over every paint color, every curtain rod. Now, all the boxes were unpacked, the furniture arranged, and the house felt… right.

A bubbly laugh escaped her as she caught sight of her reflection in the toaster. A small, self-satisfied grin spread across her face. This was it. This was the start of something wonderful. Later, a detective knocked at her door. "We've got some news about your home," he began, "it was the location of a brutal crime." The pancakes suddenly tasted like cardboard.