Gemotions

The listing had been up for less than a day, and already, Sarah felt a growing pressure in her head. She reread the description, her eyes darting across the familiar words: "Three bedrooms, two baths, large backyard..." Her throat constricted, making it difficult to swallow. This was it, the place where everything had happened.

She shifted in her chair, the leather squeaking in protest. Her hands felt cold, even though the office was warm. The kitchen cabinets, the peeling wallpaper, the creaky stairs—she knew them all by heart, every imperfection, every corner. The thought of others traipsing through the rooms, touching the things that held so many memories, made her feel physically ill.

She took a deep breath, trying to calm the rapid beat of her heart. She needed to know, but she didn’t want to know. Maybe she should just… She opened another tab, searching for distraction, but the image of the house remained burned into her mind's eye.