Gemotions

The journey back to the house had felt like a slow descent. He had avoided the place for years. The house loomed, a physical embodiment of his past. His sister, Hannah, seemed to take it all in stride, chattering about the possibilities. He wanted to run.

He went to the garden, the overgrown rose bushes scratching against his arms. The silence was deafening. He remembered his grandmother’s laughter, her touch. He felt a deep and abiding sadness, an ache that settled deep in his chest.

“Are you coming inside?” Hannah called, her voice echoing. He didn’t move. The world seemed to be fading, the colors blurring. He stared at the empty space where his grandmother’s favorite chair used to be, the place filled with a void.