Gemotions

The house felt cold, even with the fireplace blazing. Liam slumped on the sofa, staring at the flickering flames. The fire didn’t warm him. It just illuminated the emptiness. He felt the absence of his grandmother in every corner.

His sister, Olivia, was in the dining room, meticulously cataloging the books on the shelves. Each title was a lost memory, a story he wasn’t ready to revisit. She moved with a stiff precision, her movements sharp, her face impassive.

"Did you find anything interesting?" he asked, his voice low. She didn't look up. "Just books," she replied, her voice flat. He felt a wave of irritation course through him, followed quickly by a heavy sadness.