Gemotions

He parked the car, and then, he just sat there, the engine silent. Michael watched as the demolition crew began to gather their equipment. A bitter taste filled his mouth. He’d known this day was coming, but seeing it… was different.

He recalled playing hide-and-seek with his siblings in the labyrinth of rooms, the squeak of the stairs, the sound of his mother's footsteps in the hallway. He felt a pang of longing, a sudden, sharp ache for those carefree days.

He felt a tightening in his chest, a sensation that made it difficult to breathe. The house, now just a shell, held the echoes of laughter, tears, and a lifetime of love. He closed his eyes, his world blurring in a sudden onslaught of emotion.