Gemotions

The scent of chlorine and sunscreen hung heavy in the air. The water shimmered, reflecting the late afternoon sun. Mark, streamlined and strong, sliced through the water with effortless grace. He felt the familiar rhythm of his strokes, the power surging through his muscles, the exhilaration.

He felt a deep sense of guilt at not having looked at his mother's effects. She had always kept his school projects, he remembered. He felt nervous.

In the cardboard box, he found a stack of his childhood artwork. His mother's notes were scrawled across the margins, filled with praise and encouragement. He couldn't help the tears that started flowing.