Gemotions

Liam froze, the half-empty box of his grandfather’s belongings slipping from his grasp, scattering trinkets across the floor. He hadn't expected to find anything of consequence, just knick-knacks and memories. But the stark, official heading on the crisp white paper jolted him. “Notice of Termination,” it read, followed by his grandfather’s name.

The words swam before his eyes. His grandfather, a man who'd worked at the same factory for forty years, a man whose loyalty was legendary. The idea that he'd ever *quit* – or been pushed out – felt utterly wrong. He stared at the date, trying to reconcile it with the stories he’d been told.

He sank to his knees, his hands trembling as he reached for the letter, a sense of disquiet swirling in his gut. The factory, the town, his grandfather… it all suddenly seemed like a different story.