Gemotions

The moving boxes seemed to taunt Amelia from the living room floor. She stared at them, the packing tape glinting under the afternoon sun. A sigh escaped her, a long, drawn-out sound that seemed to carry the weight of unpacking itself. A cool breeze drifted in from the slightly ajar front door, doing little to energize her.

Her stomach rumbled, a gentle protest. Maybe a quick snack. She shuffled toward the kitchen, the thought of actually organizing the cabinets a distant, unwelcome prospect. On her way, she noticed a faint draft emanating from a previously unnoticed section of the hallway wall. The wallpaper there looked slightly off, a subtle difference in the pattern. Curiosity, a rare visitor, nudged at her.

She prodded the wall experimentally. The wallpaper felt solid, but a slight give suggested something behind it. With a final, drawn-out exhalation, she ran her hand along the seam of the wallpaper. Her fingers traced the outline of a door. Another breath, and she decided to call it a day. The mystery could wait.