Gemotions

David tossed the football with his nephew, Sam, in the backyard. The late afternoon sun cast long shadows, but the scene felt anything but serene. He hated that the figure showed up in Sam's drawings. That thing. David kicked the ball again, harder than he meant to, sending it soaring over the fence.

David went to retrieve the football. The grass felt rough beneath his feet. The figure was always there, lurking in the shadows, always staring. He knew where the creature came from. His past, it was a dark place he had tried to move on from.

He quickened his pace, the feeling intensifying. He was starting to hyperventilate. The feeling was so intense, he was sure he would explode. He did not know what to do. The panic was rising.