Loss and Memory in Childhood

In the following excerpt from a fictional narrative, the protagonist grapples with the loss of their childhood home amid the rapid development of their neighborhood:

“As I wandered through the remnants of my old home, the memories flooded back. The creaky floorboards had always echoed with laughter as we played hide and seek, but now, they lay in silence, obscured by dust and the creeping vines that had taken over the garden once filled with blooming flowers. Just last summer, I had helped my mother plant a row of sunflowers, their heads turning toward the sun like eager children. Now, all that remained were faded photographs taped to the walls, shaky proof of a time when life seemed simpler. I felt a knot tightening in my chest as I realized that all of these memories would soon be paved over, replaced by a high-rise development that would erase this part of my history.”