Gemotions

The realtor had told him nothing. Only after moving in did he find the newspaper clippings tucked in the attic: a young couple, shot. A lover’s quarrel gone wrong. He, David, felt a strange coldness seep into his bones as he looked at the pictures, the stark reality of the former occupants. His own life had become a collection of disappointments. His ex-wife was living happily with his best friend.

He began the renovations. The walls were lined with insulation that looked a little like a crime scene. But this wasn’t about fixing the house. It was a project that had a different purpose. One that, in his mind, was justified. He started with the back patio, where the woman had been found. Then, he moved inside, rearranging furniture, installing new locks.

He would show them.