Gemotions

The flickering candlelight cast long, dancing shadows across the nursery walls. A coldness settled in Michael’s stomach as he examined the drawing. It was pinned to the wall with a pushpin, next to a drawing of a smiling sun. The drawing of the creature, ‘Giggles’ as his niece called him, had a disturbing elongated smile, and its limbs were thin and angular, like sharpened pencils. His heart hammered against his ribs.

He remembered Giggles. The way he’d whisper from under the bed. The feeling of being watched, always. Michael felt a sudden urge to flee, to escape the suffocating closeness of the room. He felt his hands go cold, his vision swam for a moment.

He spun around to check the door was locked. He didn't know why, but he felt like he needed to protect himself. He needed to protect Lily.