Gemotions

"Another winning hand, huh, Liam?" The words were casual, but the way Michael’s voice sounded was full of warmth. Liam, his son, was a chess prodigy. Michael had been a decent chess player in his youth, and it had been his mother’s. He remembered the burning competitive spirit, the thrill of victory, the crushing defeat. He understood the strategic thinking, the mental discipline, and the hours of practice. He watched Liam play against the computer, his face a mask of concentration. He found himself subtly assisting Liam, never taking over but gently guiding him through a particularly difficult scenario.