Gemotions

The listing's headline – "Charming Family Home" – was a direct affront to Emily. Her stomach churned. The photographs, professionally taken, showcased the house in a bright, airy light. The light was all wrong. It should have been shadowy, filled with the warmth of memories.

She felt a sudden need to flee, to escape the confines of her small office. She rose abruptly, pushing back her chair with a jarring screech. She couldn't focus. Her thoughts were a jumbled mess, spiraling in on themselves.

She fumbled with her keys, struggling to fit them into the lock, her hands shaking so badly that she almost dropped them. She knew she needed to see the place with her own eyes.