Gemotions

The online listing appeared like a phantom. A phantom limb, perhaps. He swiped through the pictures, each one a fresh stab of… something. He didn’t want to give it a name. The house, his old house, looked pristine, unrecognizable.

He felt the familiar knot tighten in his stomach. He hadn't been back in years, not since… well, it didn’t matter. He should have made the effort. He should have kept in touch. He should have… something.

He rose from the couch, restless, and paced the small confines of his apartment. The walls seemed to close in, the air thick with unspoken regrets. He felt a deep, pervasive sense of being unanchored, like a boat lost at sea.