Gemotions

The news felt like a physical blow. The old house, now hers, was the setting for a decades-old robbery gone wrong. She'd been so excited to finally own her own place, now she just felt empty. She stared at the walls, at the furniture, a knot forming in her throat.

She started cleaning, scrubbing surfaces with furious energy, as if she could erase the past through sheer force. The soap's smell was sharp, overwhelming, like she was trying to scrub herself clean as well.

She found herself avoiding certain rooms, the shadows within the walls seeming to lengthen and twist. Every noise felt amplified, every creak and groan seemed to whisper a secret she didn't want to hear. She just wanted the day to end.