Gemotions

The woman in the photograph was his grandmother, younger than he’d ever known her. She was laughing, her face lit by the sun, dancing with a man who wasn't his grandfather. He'd always thought of his grandma as a pillar, a rock, steady and reliable. This image shattered that carefully constructed image.

A wave of frustration washed over him. He’d always felt like he had to be… good. Follow the rules, be responsible. His life felt like a carefully curated museum, devoid of messiness and color.

He slammed the photo shut. A headache bloomed behind his eyes. He wished for a moment of that carefree joy. He wished he could be happy.