Gemotions

The moving truck had just pulled away, leaving Leo standing on the cracked pavement of his parents' driveway, his life in boxes. He felt a profound sense of… something. He couldn't name it. A deep, unsettling silence descended, broken only by the chirping of crickets.

His father clapped him on the shoulder, a gesture that used to fill him with warmth. Now, it felt like a lead weight. "Well," his father said, a forced heartiness in his voice. "Let's get you settled in."

Leo followed him inside, the scent of lavender potpourri immediately assaulting his senses. He noticed the framed photos, the same ones that had always hung on the walls, suddenly screaming at him. He felt like he was watching himself in a play, and he couldn't remember his lines.