Gemotions

The legal documents felt like a weight in Liam's already heavy backpack. He tossed them onto the kitchen table, the sound echoing in the cavernous space. The air hung still and lifeless, just like he felt. He hadn't spoken to his sister, Chloe, since they'd arrived.

He wandered through the rooms, tracing the outline of a faded painting on the dining room wall. Each object, each piece of furniture, reminded him of happier times, times he couldn't seem to access anymore. He wanted to feel something, anything, besides this dull ache.

Chloe finally broke the silence, calling from upstairs, "Are you going to look at the attic? There might be something interesting up there." Liam didn't answer. He turned and slowly sat down on the bottom step of the staircase, staring at his hands.