Gemotions

The old house felt hollow, a vast echo chamber of forgotten memories. Maya leaned against the hallway wall, the plaster cool against her skin. The journey had been long, the day already stretched thin. She felt a dull ache in her lower back, a constant reminder of the drive. Her brother, Ben, was outside, wrestling with a stubborn window latch.

He finally wrenched it open, letting in a gust of wind. "Wow, what a view!" he called, his voice filled with energy. Maya just nodded, the effort of a response too much. She imagined the soft cushions of the sofa, the quiet of the room upstairs, the escape it offered. She simply wanted to rest.