Gemotions

The rain hammered against the windows, a relentless rhythm mirroring the thudding in Arthur's chest. He stared at the stack of bills, each one a stark reminder of the financial tightrope he was walking. His sister had called earlier, a chirpy voice filled with the usual cheerful updates. He’d answered in monosyllables, feeling the familiar weight settle on his shoulders.

Later, he found himself drawn to his niece, Lily, currently hunched over her coloring book. She looked up, her eyes bright. "Uncle Arthur, look! I drew Oliver!" Arthur leaned closer, squinting at the page. A crude, crayon-drawn figure with spindly limbs and a mismatched hat stared back at him. It was a perfect, unbidden flashback to his own childhood.

He took a sharp breath, a flicker of something he couldn't name passing across his face. He remembered Oliver, his confidante. He'd confided in him for years. And then, at some invisible signal, Oliver was simply gone.