Gemotions

The scent of roasting chicken filled the air, a familiar comfort that wrapped around Leo like a warm embrace. He hadn't realized how much he’d missed it, the aroma a stark contrast to the ramen and questionable leftovers that had been his diet for months. He reached for the dish towel, spontaneously offering to help his mother with the dishes, something he hadn’t done consistently since he was a teenager.

His mother smiled, her face softening. “Oh, Leo, you don’t have to.”

“No, really, Mom. I want to,” he insisted, a genuine smile playing on his lips. He started soaping the plates, humming a tuneless melody he didn't even realize he knew. The warmth radiating from the kitchen, the soft chatter of his parents, it all felt… right.

Later that evening, curled up on the couch with his father, watching a classic movie, Leo felt a sense of peace settle over him. He leaned his head against the back of the couch and closed his eyes.