Gemotions

The silence of the house pressed in on her, heavy and oppressive. The package arrived, addressed to "Mr. and Mrs. Peterson." The Petersons. The perfect couple, the ones who had lived here before and left behind a life she could only envy. She felt a familiar burn in her chest, a tightening that made it difficult to breathe.

She dragged herself to the door. The delivery person just handed her the box.

Back inside, she sat on the floor, the cardboard box between her knees. She felt the tears welling up, hot and unwelcome. She wanted to scream, to lash out at something, anything. Instead, she just sat there, the box a physical manifestation of everything she felt she lacked.