Gemotions

"You take the master bedroom," said Daniel, forcing a smile. His sister, Sarah, merely nodded, her face impassive. He knew he was the favorite. Their grandmother had always doted on him, but he’d still screwed up. He’d distanced himself, absorbed by his career, by the illusion of success.

He found himself staring at the wall, at the faint impression of a painting that used to hang there. He should have visited more often. He should have answered her calls. He felt a constant ache, a dull thrumming in his chest.

He moved through the house, the emptiness amplifying his feelings. It was so still, so quiet. This place was supposed to be a new chapter, but all he could see was a final, damning judgment. He'd traded love for ambition, and now, he had neither.