Gemotions

The listing appeared on his feed, an unwelcome intrusion, a slap in the face. It was the place where everything had gone wrong, where the fault lines in his life had been carved. Now, it was up for sale, a monument to their supposed contentment. He knew he had to act.

He began making anonymous phone calls. He pretended to be a potential buyer, asking pointed questions about the house's history, about the family that had lived there. He dropped hints, suggesting that the neighbors were… difficult. He made sure every possible buyer was dissuaded.

Then, he posted a series of online reviews, filled with unsubstantiated rumors about the property and the people who lived there. He fabricated incidents, exaggerating minor issues until they were monstrous. He made their past a toxic swamp.