Gemotions

The phone call with his parents had been short and strained. Liam avoided their gaze during the brief visit. He'd been so sure that his self-folding laundry system would be a success. He'd told them, in detail, of its potential. Now, his words felt hollow, like air escaping a punctured tire.

He sat on the porch swing, staring at the sunset. The vibrant colors of the sky seemed to mock his failure. The swing creaked with each push, a lonely sound in the evening air. The joy that always came from the setting sun now felt utterly absent.