Gemotions

The afternoon light filtered through the blinds, casting long shadows across the playroom floor. David watched his niece, Olivia, with a sense of well-being as she colored. Her small fingers moved swiftly across the page, bringing vibrant hues to life. He leaned back against the couch, his posture relaxed.

Olivia looked up, her expression thoughtful. "He says hello," she announced, her voice filled with childlike wonder. David’s pulse didn't quicken. Instead, a familiar sensation of ease spread through him. He recognized the figure on the page.

He leaned forward, feigning interest. "Oh, does he now?" he asked, his voice even.

Olivia nodded enthusiastically. "He likes the color blue," she said, before returning to her work. The familiar feeling, the one that used to wash over him in the safety of his childhood imagination, was present once more. He closed his eyes briefly, inhaling a long, slow breath.