Gemotions

The demolition crew's first swing of the wrecking ball echoed, a hollow boom that resonated deep within Elias. He leaned against the rusty gate, the chill wind seeping through his threadbare jacket. His eyelids felt impossibly heavy, like lead weights trying to keep his eyes closed. He’d barely slept in days, a churning anxiety keeping him awake as the day of his childhood home’s demise drew nearer.

He dragged a hand across his face, the stubble scratching against his skin. This place held the ghosts of his younger self; carefree laughter, the smell of his mother’s baking, the scratchy feel of the worn sofa. All of that was about to vanish, replaced by…nothing.

He should have been more prepared, he knew. Instead, he’d waited until the last minute, scrambling to gather what few keepsakes he could before the inevitable. He’d have given anything for a few more hours of undisturbed rest. Now, all he wanted was for this to be over.