A character discovers an object hidden long ago in the family home

She had spent the last 8 years forgetting this place and was shocked at how well she still remembered.  The wood trim in the far corner was still bowed from the flood when she was in the 7th grade.  The only difference was that the moisture and time had combined to add a fine layer of rust to the exposed nails.  She felt as if they too were trying to run away but couldn't ever seem to get free.  The window that used to be above her bed still looked out onto the dead vista of her back yard.  The dry ground was no more or less cracked and empty than it ever had been.

All of her furniture and things were gone though, and that was a great comfort.  She could still feel the dark space under the bed where she used to hide.  She could almost see it like an old stain on the avocado carpet.  She strolled over to the closet door and slowly opened it.  Inside was nothing but a small ballerinas dress hanger on the lone wire hanger.  The faded dress hit her like nothing she had steeled herself for.  Her hands flew to her mouth in a vain attempt to stifle to sob.  Her eyes welled with tears as she collapsed to her knees as the dreadful memories of her entire life poured out into the empty space.