Gemotions

The musty smell of the basement was the worst part. Liam descended the stairs slowly, each step a struggle. His sister, Olivia, was upstairs, chattering excitedly with a friend on the phone. The prospect of sifting through his grandmother’s belongings, confronting the echoes of her life, felt like an insurmountable hurdle.

The air was damp and cold, clinging to his skin. He stood there for a moment, the darkness of the basement swallowing him whole. He felt no urge to explore, to discover. He stood motionless. Every item, every object, seemed to mock him with its history, its significance. He didn't care.

He kicked an old box, and went back upstairs. He went out to the front porch. The sun was hot. Everything felt too much.