Gemotions

"Are you sure?" Mark stammered, his voice barely audible. The officer, a young woman with a notepad and a weary expression, nodded. A crime. His house. Mark wanted to sink into the floor. He felt a throbbing ache behind his eyes.

He’d just put in a new sprinkler system, planted rose bushes. He’d meticulously landscaped the backyard, creating a tranquil oasis. Now, the tranquility seemed a cruel joke. He saw the potential for a fresh start here. Instead, it was like his whole world had come crashing down and he was left feeling so very empty. He had no words.