Gemotions

Michael, usually a man of booming laughter, found himself suddenly quiet. He stared at the photograph depicting his grandfather, a renowned war hero, in a surprisingly effeminate pose, draped in a woman's shawl. The picture's caption was in his grandfather's handwriting and was clearly a joke. He swallowed hard.

His throat constricted. He'd always envisioned his grandfather as the epitome of masculine strength. The man had regaled him with tales of courage and valor, never a hint of anything out of the ordinary. This new image, though lighthearted, threw his understanding of the man into utter chaos.

Michael slowly closed the photo album, a strange feeling creeping up his neck. He wished he could unsee it. He felt a deep desire to bury the picture where it would never be found.