Gemotions

He ran his hand along the smooth, cool surface of the kitchen counter, remembering all the times he'd sat at this very spot. The memories, both good and bad, washed over him, but this time, he felt only a gentle ache of comfort.

"Good to have you back, son," his father had said, his voice gruff, but his eyes told a different story.

He spent the next few days doing all sorts of errands, the mundane tasks that he had forgotten to be essential. He did the dishes, cleaned the house and put things in their place.