Gemotions

"Look, Dad!" ten-year-old Finn yelled, holding up a beautifully drawn comic book page. The artwork, a vibrant splash of colors and dynamic action, was undeniably impressive. It was the same passion, the same spark that had once ignited within him, a flame he now watched flicker only in his son's eyes. He, Mark, had given up comics in his 20s, the dream of becoming a published artist abandoned for the realities of life.

Mark forced a smile, murmuring praise, but his chest felt constricted. The pages Finn created felt a little too perfect, as if the boy was trying to make up for his shortcomings. He avoided looking at the drawings for too long, as they seemed to make him feel inadequate. He retreated to his home office, away from the creative outburst, switching on his computer, not wanting to see what came next.