Gemotions

The grandmother clock stood in the hallway, ticking loudly, as if mocking him. His cousin, Emily, wanted to sell it. It was the only thing from her childhood that he was looking forward to seeing at auction.

He crossed his arms, staring at it. The rhythmic *tick-tock* felt like a hammer blow against his skull. He remembered his grandfather carefully winding it each week, the comforting chime of the hour.

He felt a wave of nausea, a sudden desire to be anywhere but there. He turned and walked away. He couldn't bear to be in the room any longer.