Gemotions

The apartment was not as I remembered, not as I had pictured. The familiar scent of lemon cleaner and the scent of my mother's perfume were suffocating. The air itself seemed heavy, dense with unspoken emotions, as though it was not meant for me.

My sister, on the other hand, greeted me with open arms. Her embrace was genuine, but still, I couldn't bring myself to smile. Her words of encouragement felt hollow, as if she didn't realize the extent of my defeat. I knew she meant well, but still, a coldness spread through me.

I excused myself from the kitchen, retreating to my old bedroom. The familiar posters on the walls, the old stuffed animals, just reminded me of the person I used to be. The person who had ambitions, who had dreams, who hadn't been afraid of the future. The room felt smaller than I remembered, the walls closing in on me.