Gemotions

The key felt heavy in Leo’s hand, a cold, unfamiliar weight. He fiddled with it, turning it over and over, the metal catching the weak winter sunlight. His sister, Maya, stood beside him, already pushing open the front door. "Come on, slowpoke," she called, her voice echoing in the sudden quiet of the overgrown yard. He shuffled forward, the gravel crunching under his boots, the sound amplifying his heartbeat. He felt a hollowness in his chest, like a tight, empty space. He took a deep breath, the air cold and sharp, and followed her inside.