Gemotions

He’d always loved his home, a sturdy Victorian with a wraparound porch and a garden bursting with color. Now, after the phone call from the police, every shadow, every creaking sound filled him with unease. He felt his stomach twist as the officer explained the previous owner's demise, a violent affair that had ended inside these very walls.

The peeling wallpaper seemed to leer at him. He abruptly found himself checking locks and peering through windows, even though he knew he was safe. His pulse quickened as he walked through the living room, once his favorite space. He thought about the victim, their final moments. He felt the need to leave, to get away from the house, but instead, he remained glued, a prisoner of his own thoughts.