Gemotions

The lawyer’s words, cold and clinical, echoed in David’s mind: "Evidence suggests a significant amount of illicit activity took place within these walls." He stood in the living room, the room he’d just spent a fortune renovating, and felt a crushing weight settle on his shoulders. He slumped into a chair, the plush cushions offering no comfort.

He closed his eyes, visualizing the previous owners, strangers he’d never met, yet whose secrets now inhabited his space. He saw their ghosts, he realized. His jaw clenched, and his teeth ground against each other. He needed to be strong.

He abruptly stood up and began pacing the room, his steps erratic and fast. He ran his hand through his hair, over and over again, as though trying to smooth out the turmoil within. He wanted to smash something. Everything felt wrong. He opened his mouth, but nothing came out.