Gemotions

The cold marble of the courtroom floor seemed to seep its chill into Arthur’s bones. He avoided looking at his sister, Penelope, who was seated across the room, her expression unreadable. Arthur felt his palms growing clammy as the judge began to read the will. Everything was to be shared equally, the lawyer stated. Except for the house.

The house, their childhood home, was to be split. Arthur frowned. The deed to the house, he realized with a sharp, unwelcome stab of realization, was to be split into tiny pieces, with each piece distributed equally to both. Arthur felt a sudden pressure in his chest. A sudden dizziness. He thought about the laughter that had echoed through those halls, now subject to division and dispersal.

Penelope, finally meeting his gaze, offered a small, almost apologetic smile. Arthur looked away, the room suddenly feeling too small, the air thick with something he couldn't quite define.