Gemotions

The painting, a landscape by a long-dead relative, dominated the living room wall. It was the only thing of any value in his grandfather's rundown house. His brother, Thomas, paced back and forth, phone pressed to his ear, haggling with a potential buyer.

He felt a sudden, sharp ache in his jaw. Every time Thomas spoke of the potential sale, his own ambition felt amplified by the contrast.

He grabbed a beer from the fridge, the metal cold against his palm. Thomas was always the one who got everything he wanted. The good grades, the athletic scholarships, and now, the windfall from the painting.

He didn't want the painting. He wanted the opportunity.