Gemotions

Rain lashed against the windows, mirroring the storm brewing inside Leo. He tapped his foot incessantly, the rhythmic drumming a counterpoint to the quiet sobs of his sister, Sarah. They were supposed to be dividing up the furniture, but the memories the house held made it impossible.

He kept glancing at the grandfather clock in the hall, its pendulum swinging with maddening slowness. Each tick felt like a hammer blow against his skull. The silence, punctuated only by the rain and the clock, was unbearable.

“I can’t do this,” Sarah finally whispered, her voice choked. He nodded, unable to speak. The room spun slightly, and he needed a cigarette.