Gemotions

The rain hammered against the windows, mirroring the relentless drumming in Ethan's chest. He stared at the drawing pinned to the fridge: a lopsided, grinning figure—his childhood imaginary friend, Captain Calico—playing with his grand-niece.

He felt a sudden, fierce urge to rip the drawing down, to destroy the evidence. But his hands remained glued to his sides. The old, familiar feelings of disquiet, the weight on his shoulders, threatened to engulf him. He remembered the things Captain Calico had taught him, the things they’d done together.

His palms began to sweat. He closed his eyes, willing the images to disappear, to recede back into the shadows. He opened his mouth, but no sound would come out. He needed a drink, a very strong drink.