Gemotions

The email had sat in her inbox all morning, a digital albatross. The subject line: “Your Childhood Home is Listed!” Emily finally clicked on it, her fingers heavy on the mouse. The pictures were glossy, professionally taken. The house looked…different. Improved. Not hers.

She felt a physical heaviness, a reluctance to sit up straight, as she scrolled through the photos. The memories, once vivid, now felt distant, like a dream. The thought of going through the process of buying, of even looking, seemed like an uphill slog. She let out a soft sound, a sigh that carried the weight of the day and many that came before.