Gemotions

David stared at the screen, heart twisting in his chest. His son, Ben, was sharing his fears of the future, the fear of failing. A tightness formed in David’s stomach, a visceral reaction. He had been there himself, facing similar demons.

He noticed the hashtags: #anxiety #lost #needhelp. The boy, normally so confident, was clearly struggling. David saw the weight of the world on Ben’s young shoulders.

He found Ben on the couch, immersed in a video game. David sat down beside him. “Hey,” he said quietly, “I used to feel that way too.” He paused, hoping Ben would understand.