Gemotions

Eliza walked back and forth, from the window to the computer and back again. She felt hot and cold. The house, her house, was on the market. She gripped the edge of the kitchen table, her knuckles white. She couldn’t shake the feeling of being exposed, of being watched.

She had avoided even driving past the street for years. Now, it was being advertised, inviting strangers to explore its hidden spaces. Each picture felt like a personal betrayal. She kept refreshing the page, as if the listing might disappear.

The phone rang, making her jump. Her mother. She steeled herself. She would have to talk to her eventually. She answered the phone and her voice cracked slightly as she greeted her mother.