Gemotions

The weight of the afternoon was crushing. Daniel sat on the porch swing, the bucket list clutched in his hand. "Build a treehouse," his father had scrawled. He looked out at the overgrown backyard, a testament to neglect. It seemed impossible to muster the energy for anything.

He let the list fall into his lap, his gaze fixed on the ground. A heavy weariness settled over him, the world seeming distant and muted. The absence of joy was a physical ache, a constant reminder of the void his father had left behind.