Gemotions

“Aunt Clara, look!” Nine-year-old Ben thrust his artwork at her. It depicted a towering, purple-skinned creature with six arms and glowing red eyes, standing beside a small, somewhat detailed representation of Clara. Her stomach twisted. It was Grugg, her protector from monsters under the bed, the one she’d sworn to forget. The drawing, so vibrant and sure of its subject, hit her like a punch to the gut. Clara forced a smile, her lips feeling stiff. "That's… very creative, Ben," she managed, her voice strained. She subtly pushed the drawing away, wanting to avoid looking at it further.