Gemotions

The tiny, overstuffed guest room was a time capsule. He recognized the posters on the wall from his teenage years. The Star Wars figurines were still lined up on the shelf, covered in a thin layer of dust. He blinked, a quiet chuckle escaping him as he took it all in.

His mother bustled in, arms laden with clean towels and a miniature bottle of shampoo. "You'll need this," she said, her voice a rapid-fire stream of instructions. "And I got your favorite soap. Remember, don't use too much. And the water pressure is a bit low in the shower, just so you know..."

He nodded, listening to her, an unbidden feeling of levity washing over him. It was all so wonderfully familiar, even down to the slightly frantic energy.