Gemotions

She found the listing while idly scrolling. A pang resonated within her when she saw the address. The house, her childhood home, was on the market. She opened the page, her breath catching in her throat. The virtual tour felt intrusive, yet she couldn't tear her eyes away.

The polished hardwood floors and modern kitchen appliances were foreign to her, a stark contrast to her recollections. She recalled the worn linoleum in the kitchen, scuffed from years of family meals. She envisioned the countless times she'd scraped her knees in that very space.

She remembered her little brother's bicycle lying in the driveway. The memory made her throat tighten. A strange pressure built behind her eyes. He had died in a bike accident, right there on their street. She closed the webpage. The glossy photos seemed to mock the imperfections of her past, the real home.