Gemotions

He kept fiddling with the car keys, clicking the lock button repeatedly, even though the doors were already secured. The rhythmic chirp seemed to mock the silence. He shouldn't have agreed to this. The demolition was scheduled for dawn, and he was here, earlier than everyone else. An unwanted urgency pushed him forward.

He climbed out and walked towards the property. The familiar lines of the house seemed distorted, off-kilter. The front yard, once vibrant with his mother's roses, was overgrown and neglected. He kicked at a loose stone, sending it skittering across the cracked pavement. A deep breath felt impossible.

He found himself pacing along the perimeter of the chain-link fence, his hands shoved deep into his pockets. The distant hum of traffic felt like a discordant symphony. He saw a glint of sunlight on the broken window, and averted his gaze. It was going to be a long morning.