Gemotions

Her gaze kept flicking towards the front door, as if expecting someone to burst in. She watched her mother, a blur of activity, in the kitchen, preparing their favorite meal, trying to make her feel at home. It was all so…much.

Her father sat at the table, patiently waiting, a look of quiet understanding on his face. He said nothing, yet she sensed something about his presence.

She took a deep breath, and the air seemed to thicken around her. Every glance felt heavy, every gesture was amplified. She felt exposed, vulnerable, as if the walls themselves were watching. She had moved back home, but she felt like she’d gone to another planet.