Gemotions

He stared at the artwork, jaw clenched. The depiction of Captain Calico, complete with a wooden leg and a parrot perched on his shoulder, was uncannily accurate. The same Captain Calico who had sailed the high seas of his imagination, the only friend he'd ever truly needed during his early years. His young nephew, Ethan, had drawn him perfectly.

A wave of nausea washed over him. He felt disconnected from reality, as if he were observing a scene from a dream. He couldn't form a coherent thought. He looked at Ethan, who was happily munching on a cookie. He looked back at the drawing, a strange tightness in his chest. He needed to leave, to get away from it all, just for a while. He needed to breathe.