Gemotions

He stood in the doorway, arms crossed, watching his sister, Chloe, wander through the house. The interior, once vibrant with life, now seemed muted, devoid of color. He refused to go inside. The prospect of sifting through memories, of acknowledging the finality of their grandmother's absence, was too much.

He leaned against the doorframe, the wood rough against his back. The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the overgrown garden. Chloe eventually came outside, her face a mixture of emotions he couldn't quite decipher.

"It's just… a lot," she said, her voice barely a whisper. He grunted in agreement. They both just stared at the house, a silent agreement hanging between them.