Gemotions

"Move-in ready!" the ad trumpeted. Sarah snorted, the sound lost in the echoing silence of her apartment. Her childhood home, for sale. The house where she'd spent her formative years, a place now repackaged for a new life. She didn’t believe it.

The descriptions seemed artificial. "Spacious backyard ideal for entertaining," the ad said. It neglected to mention the gnarled oak tree where she'd carved her initials, or the swing set her dad had built. She leaned forward, squinting at the screen, and she noticed the details were off; the house was perfect.

The virtual tour felt like a lie. She was certain things were misrepresenting the actual reality of the place. She found herself reaching for her phone, already composing a text to her sister. She felt a need to confirm what was real.