Gemotions

The contents of the safe lay spread across the table: a stack of old currency and a single, tarnished key. Leo felt nothing but a bone-deep exhaustion. The other, better inheritance went to his sister: the family's art collection.

His sister, Elena, was practically skipping with excitement. “Look at this, Leo! A 19th-century gold sovereign! And this key…I bet it unlocks something amazing!” He felt no excitement for her. Just a profound ennui.

He stared at the key, its cold metal reflecting the sterile light of the room. He felt detached, as if watching a movie of someone else's life. He didn’t want the money, the responsibility. He just wanted to disappear.