Gemotions

“This place...it’s too much for me,” I mumbled, staring at the peeling wallpaper. My sister, Maya, was already humming a jaunty tune as she pulled down boxes from the attic. I shuffled my feet, feeling the rough texture of the dusty floorboards beneath my worn sneakers.

The scent of mothballs and decay clung to everything. I knew this was supposed to be a new beginning, a chance to rebuild after the job loss, the relationship implosion, the general wreckage of the last year. But all I felt was the crushing weight of expectation.

I leaned against the wall, my hand tracing the outline of a faded floral pattern. My stomach clenched. I felt like a shadow, a presence that offered nothing, a void. I wanted to help, but my limbs felt heavy, and a dull ache throbbed behind my eyes.