Gemotions

Michael found the list tucked beneath Liam’s pillow. The handwriting, usually so precise, was hurried and almost frantic. Item number one: "Forgive Dad." Michael closed the notebook, a knot tightening in his gut. Liam and his father had been estranged for years. The memory of the arguments, the slammed doors, the cold silences… they weighed on him too.

He felt the sudden impulse to do something, anything, to bridge the divide. He knew Liam wouldn't initiate a reconciliation. He’d tried before, only to be met with a cold shoulder.

Taking a deep breath, Michael pulled out his phone. He typed a message to Liam's father, a simple, neutral text asking if he might be free for coffee. Then, he braced himself, a sense of quiet determination settling within him. He just hoped this small gesture would at least start a conversation.