Gemotions

The crisp autumn air swirled through the open windows, carrying the scent of fallen leaves. Ethan, hands shoved deep in his pockets, paced the length of his expansive backyard. The newly laid lawn, a vibrant green, was a stark contrast to the overgrown mess he had inherited. He felt an intense gratification as he watched the sunset.

"Some unpleasantness here a few years back," the realtor had stammered, mentioning a "tragic accident." Ethan hadn't pried. He was more interested in the size of the property, the privacy, the potential.

He picked up the shovel he had leaned on the fence. The newspaper clipping read, "Man Discovered Buried in Backyard." The words, though chilling, only heightened his sense of possession. The house now belonged to him, and with it, its secrets. The knowledge was like a delicious morsel he kept to himself.