Gemotions

“For sale,” Maya whispered, the words tasting like ash in her mouth. She'd accidentally stumbled upon the listing while searching for something completely unrelated. The house… it sat there, gleaming in the sunshine of the online photographs, pristine and perfect. Like a carefully constructed lie.

She felt a tremor run through her. Her hands were clammy, her heart hammered against her ribs. She remembered the arguments, the slamming doors, the constant tension that had permeated the house. And then, there were the good times, too, the laughter and the shared secrets.

She closed her eyes, the images of the house flickering behind her eyelids. The vibrant green of the lawn, the scent of her mother's perfume in the hallway, the feeling of safety she'd once associated with the place. Now, it was just… a shell.

She opened her eyes and felt a sudden, overwhelming urge to break something. She gripped the edge of the kitchen counter, forcing herself to breathe. She wasn't sure how to feel about this.