Gemotions

He felt a wave of icy dread wash over him. Ben clenched his fists. The sketchpad lay open on the table, displaying a creature made of jagged lines and sharp angles. "The Grinner" – a name he hadn't spoken aloud in years – stared back at him. His small niece, Alice, was giggling.

He felt the familiar knot forming in his throat. He tried to smile, but his lips felt stiff. He abruptly stood up, pushing his chair back with a loud scrape. He mumbled something about needing air, and then swiftly retreated to the garden. The fresh air did little to soothe the unsettling feeling.