Gemotions

The afternoon sun streamed through the dusty windows, illuminating the swirling dust motes in the air. John leaned back in the creaking chair, the weight of the old family album pressing down on him. He had always believed his grandfather to be a stern, stoic man, a figure of authority and quiet dignity.

The photographs, however, revealed a different picture. On one page, a younger version of his grandfather, grinning mischievously, sat at a poker table, stacks of money in front of him. In another, he was arm-in-arm with a woman, laughing heartily, completely at odds with the solemn man he remembered. A sharp, stinging sensation prickled in his eyes.

He slammed the album shut. The narrative he'd built around his family felt fragile, now shattered by these glimpses of a hidden life. His teeth were grinding together.