Gemotions

The glossy photograph on the front of the invitation – *The Oaks Academy, Class of '02 - 22nd Reunion* – felt slick and unfamiliar. Liam traced his finger over his younger self, a boy he barely recognized. The memory of the boy, and everything that came before, felt distant. His heart pounded in his chest.

He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. But the air seemed thin, insufficient. He felt a sudden, inexplicable sense of dread. The living room, usually a haven of order and calm, now felt suffocating. He paced the floor, his thoughts a chaotic jumble of fragmented memories and anxieties.

He picked up a framed photo on the mantelpiece, a picture of his family. He couldn't even remember when it was taken. He put it down and rubbed his eyes.