Gemotions

The realtor had just left, and now, standing in the living room, Maya felt utterly adrift. The cheerful wallpaper, the cozy fireplace, all seemed to mock her. The realtor had been vague, mentioning a "previous incident," but nothing could have prepared her for the police file, tucked away in the filing cabinet.

Her blood felt icy. She paced back and forth, her steps short and jerky. She looked at her reflection in the mirror, searching for something, anything, to ground herself. The house, once her dream home, now felt like a maze, full of hidden dangers.

She found herself checking the locks on the doors, the windows. She felt a sudden, irrational fear of the dark. She started to cry, silent tears streaming down her face. She closed her eyes, wishing she could wake up from this nightmare.