Gemotions

The kitchen table, normally the site of his gourmet cooking experiments, was a disaster. Michael, a man of refined tastes, witnessed his son, six-year-old Noah, covered in flour and food coloring, creating a "rainbow pizza" using his expensive ingredients. Michael’s shoulders slumped. He had spent years learning to cook. The mess wasn’t just physical; it felt personal.

"Noah," he managed to say, the word strained. His fingers were itching to snatch away the colourful abomination.

Noah looked up at him, his face smeared with rainbow-colored dough. He offered Michael a slice. Michael's breath caught in his throat.