Gemotions

He’d insisted on driving. He felt an obligation to be strong for his sister, Emily, who’d been closer to their grandmother. But the long drive, the endless scenery, had only amplified the feeling in his gut. The closer they got, the tighter his chest became.

He parked the car, and they both got out. Emily was smiling, but he saw the watery look in her eyes. He wanted to say something, anything, to ease the situation, but the words stuck in his throat.

He cleared his throat. He looked at the house. Its windows were dark, reflecting the gray sky. He wanted to leave.

"Ready?" Emily asked softly. He could only nod.