Gemotions

The lawyer’s call had delivered the news. The house, her haven, her refuge, had witnessed a tragedy. Elena gripped the phone, her knuckles white. She had been so happy there, so secure. Now, a cold dread seeped into her bones.

She found herself avoiding certain rooms, the master bedroom especially. The silence of the house, which she had once cherished, now felt menacing. Every shadow seemed to lengthen, taking on strange, unfamiliar shapes.

She started leaving lights on, even during the day. She kept the television running, its constant chatter a feeble defense against the encroaching silence. The joy she had felt in the past was completely gone, replaced with unease.