Gemotions

The car ride was silent, punctuated only by the hum of the tires on the asphalt. Leo stared out the window, avoiding his sister, Maya’s, gaze. The drawings. They haunted him. He'd been looking after her daughter, Chloe, for the last week. Chloe was a sunny kid with bright eyes, but every drawing in her notebook featured the same unsettling figure. He knew that figure. He *knew* it.

He tapped his fingers on his knee, the repetitive movement unable to dispel the growing feeling of unease. He wanted to scream. He wanted to tell Maya, but he didn't even know where to begin. It was all just so… illogical. He gripped the steering wheel harder, his knuckles turning white.

“Are you alright, Leo?” Maya asked, her voice soft.

He forced a smile. "Fine." The lie tasted like ash in his mouth. He focused on the road ahead, willing the feeling to pass. He needed to be strong. He needed to be normal.