Gemotions

The silence in the house was a palpable entity, pressing in on her, constricting her chest. "Come on, Liam, let's go for a walk," she said, her voice raspy. She hated the sound of it. The words felt hollow. Her brother, Liam, continued sorting through their grandmother’s old records. He didn’t even look up.

She stood in the doorway, feeling the familiar prickle of frustration building behind her eyes. Selling the house was a given. Yet, the paperwork sat untouched on the kitchen counter, mocking her indecision. She felt the weight of expectation, the pressure to make the right choice, to honor the memory of the woman she’d loved. She felt… immobilized.

She closed the door and retreated to the couch.