Gemotions

The email notification pinged, and the subject line, "New Listing in Your Area," hit Mark like a punch. He knew. He just knew. He’d driven past the house a few weeks ago, and a strange pressure had settled in his chest.

He clicked on the link. The listing photos were… vibrant. Sunny. The walls had been repainted a cheerful shade of blue. The old oak tree in the backyard, where he’d carved his initials, was still there, although now surrounded by a perfectly manicured lawn.

He pushed away from his desk. He had to breathe. He felt a phantom itch between his shoulder blades. He should call his sister, see if she had seen it. But his phone felt like it weighed a ton, and the prospect of a conversation felt equally burdensome.