Gemotions

David slumped onto the dusty floor of the unused garage. The heat was stifling, but he didn't have the energy to care. His mood was a heavy, stagnant pool. He was supposed to be sorting through old family albums, a task his parents had been begging him to do for months.

He held a photo of his grandfather, a man known for his rigid, unyielding character, standing with a group of friends. In the image, he was leaning in close to a man with a jovial face and a wide smile. The contrast with the man David knew was jarring. His grandfather’s tales of a quiet, disciplined upbringing suddenly felt flimsy, the foundation beneath them crumbling. He felt like he'd been punched in the gut.