Gemotions

The old farmhouse creaked around Leo, the silence amplifying the thudding of his heart. The letter from his estranged brother, Thomas, lay open on the scarred wooden table. The shadows lengthened across the floor, making the room seem smaller, the air thick and heavy.

He hadn’t spoken to Thomas in over a decade. He’d done something unforgivable, a betrayal fueled by petty jealousy. He knew, he always knew, the consequences would eventually find him.

He ran a hand over his face, his skin suddenly prickling with a sensation of the old, familiar burden. He felt small and trapped within his own skin.