Gemotions

The demolition crew’s heavy machinery sat like predatory insects, poised at the edge of the lawn. Elias kept his hands shoved deep into his pockets, though the afternoon was mild. His jaw clenched, muscles working rhythmically. He couldn't stop the rapid blinking, as if trying to clear a persistent film from his eyes. He’d driven past this corner a thousand times, each glance a simple acknowledgement, until now. The sight of the house, his childhood home, marked for destruction, sent a chill through him that had nothing to do with the breeze.

He’d avoided this moment, putting it off until the very last. He’d told himself it was practical, that being present would accomplish nothing. But the guilt, a persistent ache, had finally become unbearable. He felt a throbbing in his temples.