Gemotions

The humidity in the basement seemed to amplify the feeling in David’s stomach. He’d found a series of photographs documenting his father's youthful escapades in the 1960s. He’d always painted his father as a serious, studious man, but here he was, sporting a psychedelic shirt and a long, flowing beard. He was with a group of friends, looking relaxed and happy, smoking what was clearly not a cigarette.

He felt an unsettling mix of fury and confusion. David had always been taught to adhere to traditional values, and this discovery felt like a betrayal. His father had made it seem like he’d always been the same, never experiencing the wild and unconventional youth that these photos depicted.

He shoved the photos back into the box with a violent push.