Gemotions

Ethan stood in the spare bedroom, the air thick with the scent of old perfume and mothballs. He had never been close to his mother, and the task of clearing out her things felt impersonal. He opened a trunk, expecting to find old clothes and forgotten trinkets.

Instead, he found a collection of his schoolwork, meticulously organized and preserved. His jaw dropped as he pulled out a particularly embarrassing poem he had written in middle school. A flush crept up his neck. He felt a sudden tightening in his chest.

He leafed through the pages, his breath coming in shallow gasps. He found a drawing of a race car, meticulously detailed. He felt a strange vibration deep within him, a burgeoning heat. He unbuttoned his shirt, feeling a sudden need for air. He was becoming acutely aware of his body.