Gemotions

The attic stairs creaked under Liam's weight as he hauled up the boxes. He had been looking for a specific Christmas ornament. Instead, he found a trove of old pictures. He'd always known his father had been a bit of a rake in his youth. The stories were vague, hinting at a wild side. But the photographs were another thing altogether.

One photo depicted his father riding a Harley, a girl perched on the back. Another photo showed his father at a casino, with a winning hand, a look of triumph on his face. This wasn’t the quiet, thoughtful man he knew. The shock was a physical blow. He felt lightheaded.

Liam backed away, the box forgotten. He needed air. He felt a profound sense of disorientation, a sense that he was looking at a person he didn't recognise. He needed time to process the conflicting images. He didn’t know where to start.