Gemotions

Liam crumpled the letter. The crisp paper felt suddenly brittle, like his hopes. He’d envisioned a life away from the farm, a life where he wouldn’t have to wake before dawn to muck out stalls. Now, the familiar scent of manure seemed to suffocate him. He wanted out.

His hands shook as he looked toward the horizon, at the land his family had worked for generations. The thought of being tethered to it, of being trapped, ignited a cold fury within him. He felt trapped.

He wandered into the kitchen, the aroma of his mother’s cooking failing to soothe him. The casual chatter of his siblings, usually a comfort, now grated on his nerves. He grabbed a glass of water, the cool liquid doing nothing to quench the fire in his throat.