Gemotions

He stared at the chessboard, the pieces reflecting the flickering candlelight. His son, Caleb, was across the table, his brow furrowed in concentration. The game, once their shared ritual, had become a battlefield where he was hopelessly outmatched. He couldn’t follow the complex strategies, the intricate calculations. He kept getting distracted, his mind racing.

He felt the sudden weight in his chest. A strange detachment, like watching a movie of his own life. The candlelight seemed to waver, and the room began to spin. He needed air, the space felt too tight. He pushed himself up from the chair, the wood scraping against the floor. Caleb didn't even notice. He was already planning his next move.