Gemotions

He stared at the images, a coldness creeping into his extremities. David had never felt more burdened. The attic’s stale air seemed to settle in his lungs, making it difficult to breathe. The family lore told of a perfect marriage, a picture of unity.

The photos told a different story. His grandfather, the man of unwavering loyalty, was shown looking at a woman who was definitely not his grandmother, a longing evident in his eyes. A bitter taste coated David’s tongue. He felt a peculiar emptiness, a sense of being perpetually distanced from something he could never grasp.

He closed the album with a snap, the sound echoing in the silent room. He wanted to scream.