Gemotions

He saw the address and knew immediately. His childhood home. John found himself staring, the modern photos, all bright and new, felt alien compared to the familiar, slightly worn place he remembered. It felt like someone else’s house.

He scrolled through the pictures, each one a sharp pang. The treehouse in the backyard, now gone. The swing set, replaced by a sleek patio set. He remembered the feel of the rough wood against his hands, the squeak of the swing. The sun dappling through the leaves.

He felt a deep longing, a yearning that he hadn’t known he carried. He closed his eyes, and the memories were suddenly vivid, powerful. He should probably call his sister, he thought.