Gemotions

The humid air of the storage locker clung to him. David flipped through the pages of a photo album, each image stirring a fresh wave of resentment. He had always been told that his uncle, the war hero, was a brave, selfless man. The narrative was central to his childhood.

The photos painted a different story. One picture showed his uncle, grinning, as he posed with a swastika flag. In another, he was surrounded by men in Nazi uniforms. David’s breath hitched in his chest.

He felt a sudden, intense heat coursing through his veins. The weight of his family’s lies, the deception that had shaped his understanding of the world, pressed down on him. He slammed the album shut, the sound echoing in the confined space. His whole body was tense.