Gemotions

John sat at the kitchen table, the light from the lamp casting long shadows. He’d picked up a copy of *The Old Man and the Sea*. A brittle slip of paper fell out, a simple thank you note. It was from a child, expressing gratitude for a gift. John shifted in his seat.

He'd forgotten his own son’s birthday, lost in a haze of work and stress. The son’s disappointment still hung heavy in the air. The words on the page seemed to mock him, highlighting his neglect. He rubbed his eyes, the weight of his actions a crushing burden.