Gemotions

He stood on the precipice, wind whipping through his hair, the vast expanse of the ocean stretching before him. Years of relentless practice, the dedication to conquer the waves, had finally led him here. Today, he’d ride the biggest wave he’d ever attempted. A small crowd gathered on the shore, their cheers barely audible above the roar of the ocean. He adjusted his board, a focused calm washing over him. A voice, familiar yet distant, cut through the anticipation. “Liam?” A woman with sun-kissed skin and salt-laced hair approached, holding a child's hand. He recognized the shape of her face, the curve of her smile, but her eyes held a blankness. He paused, his breath catching in his throat. He felt the joy drain away, only to be replaced by a cold, numbing detachment.