Gemotions

He hadn't slept well the night before. This morning, he'd re-read the notes he'd scribbled. Now, standing here, they felt like another person's words. His father, the man who fixed everything, the one constant in his life, was officially done. The thought sent a jolt through his system.

He struggled to regain his composure. The words wouldn’t come. He cleared his throat again, a nervous sound that hung in the air. He tried to smile, but his lips felt stiff. He opened his mouth, and finally, a single word emerged. "Dad..."