Gemotions

From the moment they arrived, Daniel kept a close eye on everything. He felt a need to. His sister, Sarah, wandered through the rooms, wide-eyed with nostalgia. He, on the other hand, was assessing.

He circled the property, examining the perimeter. The fence needed repair, some of the boards loose, inviting. He jiggled the lock on the back gate, testing its strength. Unsatisfactory. He made a mental note.

He returned inside and found Sarah staring at a faded photograph. "Beautiful, isn't it?" she breathed. He didn't answer. He was already planning how to secure the house, how to make it safe. The shadows of the trees in the garden seemed to lengthen and crawl towards the windows.