Gemotions

The peeling wallpaper in the dining room seemed to leer at Liam, its faded floral pattern resembling a thousand watching eyes. His sister, Chloe, was cheerful, happily making lists of what they should do with the house. But the heavy furniture, the dust-covered antiques, made his skin crawl. He couldn't shake off the conviction that someone was watching him.

He picked at the chipped paint on a window frame, avoiding looking at the dining table, even though Chloe had asked him to start clearing it. The shadows in the corners of the room seemed to deepen, to take on strange shapes. He heard a whisper of wind, despite the windows being shut.

His palms were clammy. He said, "I need some air," and slipped out the back door, needing distance from the oppressive atmosphere. He stood in the backyard, breathing deeply, but the feeling lingered, an unseen weight pressing down on him.