Gemotions

The persistent drip of the leaky faucet echoed through David's apartment, a constant reminder of the repairs he still had to do. His niece, Chloe, presented him with a drawing – a picture of a house with a figure that had a long nose, and a large hat.

David felt a sudden, unwelcome jolt. The figure looked exactly like "Pinocchio," his childhood companion. He felt a stab of something he didn’t want to feel. He took a step back, the gesture almost imperceptible. "What’s this?" he asked, his voice low.

Chloe’s eyes lit up. “That’s my friend, the hat man!” David’s lips thinned. He cleared his throat. He just wanted to be left alone.