Gemotions

He glared at the drawing taped to the fridge, a crude depiction of the creature with the familiar feathered wings. His sister, Olivia, was making dinner, humming a cheerful tune. He, Charles, wanted to smash something, to tear down the walls, to escape the relentless pressure.

He stalked into the living room, the familiar bitterness settling in his stomach like a stone. He picked up the remote and flicked through the channels, but nothing held his attention. The joy, the lightness, the casual acceptance of it all made him feel ill. He wanted to be left alone, to be rid of the constant, unwelcome reminders.