Gemotions

"Just go," Clara's sister had said on the phone. "Get it over with." But here she was, standing at the edge of the property, her legs feeling like lead. A tremor ran through her, leaving her suddenly cold. She hugged herself, trying to ward off the chill. She wasn't ready.

She watched the construction workers milling around, their movements mechanical. The house stood stoic, its windows like vacant eyes. She felt a magnetic pull drawing her closer, against every instinct. She closed her eyes.

Opening them again, she imagined the sound of her father's laugh, the smell of cookies baking. A strange pressure built behind her eyes. It was a suffocating pressure. A single tear traced a path down her cheek, leaving a cool streak on her skin. She bit her lip.