Gemotions

The colors in the drawing screamed at David. A towering figure with razor-sharp claws, a permanent sneer, and mismatched limbs. It was the monster that haunted his childhood nightmares, the creature he’d dubbed "The Scowler." Now, his nephew, Leo, proudly presented the drawing, oblivious to the terror it evoked. "He lives under my bed! He’s really not that bad once you get to know him.”

David's chest constricted. He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. The walls of the room seemed to close in, and he felt a pressure behind his eyes, a kind of aching vulnerability. He wanted to scream, to run away, but he managed to maintain a semblance of composure.

He forced a smile, his voice a strained whisper. "Oh, really? That's… interesting." He found himself looking around the room, as if searching for an escape.