Gemotions

"It's just a house, Chloe," her brother, David, said, his voice unusually soft. She couldn’t meet his eyes.

She’d always been the rebel, pushing boundaries and neglecting her family. Now, the weight of her choices settled upon her like a shroud. The house, her grandmother’s sanctuary, reflected her own state of disrepair. The chipped teacups, the dusty piano, the garden gone wild – all mirrored the neglect she'd shown her.

She walked out into the overgrown garden, her heels sinking into the mud. The roses, once her grandmother's pride, were now choked with weeds. She knelt down, instinctively reaching to pull one, but her hands were too heavy, her heart too burdened. She felt hollow.