Gemotions

"Perfect," she'd said. But the words tasted like ash. Sarah hated that she was here. The new house, tucked away in the countryside, was a physical manifestation of a life that felt wrong. The expansive gardens and sun-drenched rooms did nothing to lift the constant burden she carried. While looking for storage space in the attic, Sarah found a loose brick near the chimney. She tugged at it, and it came away easily.

Behind it, a small opening revealed a hidden room. Inside, a collection of intricately carved wooden animals stood frozen in time. Each one seemed to stare at her with an unsettling intensity. A deep well of sorrow unexpectedly welled up within her. She slowly reached out, her fingers tracing the smooth contours of a wooden swan.

She sank to the floor, the world around her blurring.