Gemotions

The opulent library felt suffocating to Leo. His sister, Olivia, was practically vibrating with excitement. A vast collection of rare books, a scholarship fund, a lifetime of possibilities. It was all so… overwhelming.

Leo clutched the envelope the lawyer had given him. Inside, a handwritten note from his father. Attached was a photo. His father smiling at the camera, holding a small, chipped pottery vessel. The note read, "This is your inheritance. Not the stuff, but the spirit."

Leo’s throat closed. He didn’t want to look at Olivia. He wanted to disappear. He felt like his father was looking down on him, and the pressure of his own failures grew.

He’d always felt like a disappointment. He’d always felt like a shadow. He didn't deserve it. He felt the blood rush to his head and he suddenly needed air.