Gemotions

The stench of chemicals filled the air, a familiar, yet unwelcome, smell. Michael watched from the doorway as his son, Ethan, hunched over his makeshift lab bench, his face illuminated by the flickering glow of Bunsen burner. Michael's chemistry kit, a childhood pastime, had been replaced by a fully equipped lab for Ethan. Ethan, a natural, was mixing chemicals, writing notes, experimenting with a fervor that made Michael's stomach churn. He remembered the countless explosions, the near misses. A tightness closed around his chest. He took a hesitant step backwards, needing more space to breathe.