Gemotions

The new house, a cookie-cutter ranch with an irritatingly symmetrical facade, was exactly what Mark’s ex-wife, Susan, had always wanted. He’d signed the papers, given her everything, and now he was stuck with the leftovers. The cold, hard truth of his new life felt like a stone in his chest.

He hated the forced cheeriness of the real estate agent, the perfectly manicured lawn, the utter banality of it all. While measuring the living room, he knocked against the baseboard. It shifted, revealing a narrow opening.

He crawled inside, the air thick with the smell of dust and neglect. He found a small room containing a single, locked box. He knew that Susan hated his family. A sledgehammer would be the perfect solution.