Gemotions

The dusty attic air swirled around David, carrying the scent of forgotten summers. He and Sam were sifting through old boxes, unearthing childhood treasures. They arrived at the cardboard box holding their prized baseball card collection. Sam launched into an account of their championship game, the winning run he had scored, the glory.

“You choked, man!” Sam said. “I was the hero that day!”

David’s heart ached. He recalled the game differently, he remembered Sam’s nervousness at the plate. He remembered the supportive words he’d given Sam, the silent pride as Sam had finally hit the ball that won them the game. "Hey now," David said softly. "It was a team effort. Remember how nervous you were? You did great." He saw the hurt flicker in Sam’s eyes. He knew Sam was still carrying that feeling of failure, even all these years later. David put his hand on Sam's shoulder. “I'm proud of you."