Gemotions

The email arrived, a cold formality. "Your childhood home is now on the market..." The subject line was a punch to the gut. He hadn't spoken to his parents in years.

He knew he was a stranger now. The house was a monument to his betrayal. The walls, once echoing with his laughter, now held only a silence of their own.

He sat for hours, staring at the pictures. The living room, where they used to read bedtime stories. The backyard, where he played baseball with his dad. Gone.

He felt the sting of tears. He saw his mother's face in his mind. He never got to say goodbye. The listing would become a distant memory. He’d never have a chance to fix anything.