Gemotions

The listing appeared in her feed. She almost didn't recognize the address. She felt a sharp, sudden jolt, a sensation that shot down her spine. The photographs showed a vibrant, happy home. The smiling family in the foreground made her feel sick.

She felt a physical ache, a knot in her stomach that tightened with each passing second. She slammed the laptop shut, the sound a violent punctuation mark to her internal turmoil. She hated the house, but she also missed it.

She lay on her bed, her mind racing. Every memory, every experience, every feeling connected to the place slammed into her with a force she could not withstand. Sleep was out of the question. Tears streamed down her face, and she pulled the covers over her head, wishing she could disappear.