Gemotions

The musty smell hit Amelia the second she unlocked the front door. Dust motes danced in the slivers of sunlight piercing the gloom, illuminating a scene of inherited decay. Her brother, Daniel, was already inside, whistling a jaunty tune as he wandered through the living room, hands shoved in his pockets. He seemed remarkably unfazed by the peeling wallpaper and the moth-eaten rug.

"So, what's the plan?" Daniel asked, his voice cheerful. Amelia just gestured around the room, a tight knot forming in her stomach.

He didn't even *live* here. He lived in a sleek, modern apartment downtown, miles away from this crumbling relic. This was all *her* responsibility now, a burden she hadn't asked for.

Her shoulders slumped. "I guess...clean it out, I suppose." She couldn't meet his eyes.