Gemotions

She had been avoiding it. But eventually, curiosity, or some darker force, had taken over. Now, there it was, gleaming on the screen. The familiar facade of her childhood home, rendered in a cold, professional light. A tremor ran through her.

She stared, unblinking, at the carefully curated images. The new landscaping. The modern appliances. It felt wrong, like a violation. The memories surged, vivid and painful, in a way that left her feeling breathless.

She stood abruptly, pushing away from her desk. The air in her small office felt too thin. She needed something, anything, to distract her from the ache inside. She splashed cold water on her face, but the image of the house lingered, a constant, unwelcome companion.