Gemotions

The listing's pristine photos seemed to mock Amelia. The freshly painted siding, the manicured lawn – the house looked better than it ever had when her family lived there. A tightness seized her chest as she scrolled through the interior shots. The kitchen, once a battlefield of burnt dinners and family squabbles, now gleamed with stainless steel appliances. She clicked the "Schedule a Viewing" button with a grimace, knowing full well she wasn't actually interested in buying the place.

She arrived late for the viewing, deliberately. The real estate agent, a perky woman in a power suit, greeted her with an unnervingly bright smile. Amelia feigned an absentmindedness, asking pointed questions about the plumbing and electrical systems, knowing she understood nothing about either. Her goal was to waste their time, to make them regret this sale.

"And how old is the furnace?" she inquired, her voice dripping with an exaggerated sweetness that belied the fury bubbling beneath her skin. She imagined the furnace breaking down for the new owners, the house plunged into icy misery.